By: Mikayla Ho, Staff Writer
October marks the beginning of the spooky season– Halloween! Halloween is celebrated by millions of people each year and is a beloved autumn celebration that has been around since the 19th century. During this holiday many people dress in costumes to trick or treat or attend Halloween parties, but how did this unique tradition really start?
Halloween originated in the ancient Celtic festival Samhain. This ancient religious holiday welcomes the harvest at the end of summer, and to celebrate, many would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. The etymology of Halloween originated when Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as a day to honor all saints, known as All Saints’ Day. This celebration began incorporating the traditions of Samhain and the evening before, known as All Hallows Eve, later became known as Halloween. A century later, Pope Gregory IV added All Saints’ Day to the universal Christian calendar, expanding this holiday from Roman churches across the globe.
Trick-or-treating is one of the most highly anticipated events during Halloween. Although there is much debate about the origins of trick-or-treating, it has ultimately led to a similar conclusion over time. Since Halloween originated as a religious festival, an early form of trick-or-treating was the practice of “souling”. This tradition practiced going door-to-door asking for “soul cakes,” a biscuit-like treat. Another theory suggests that during Samhain, Celtic people would leave out food to pacify the spirits traveling the Earth. After some time, people began dressing mysteriously to get food and drink offerings. During the late 1800s, there was an initiative to have Halloween as more of a community-building and neighborly get-together holiday instead of being based on religious superstitions.
Candy corn is a staple sweet treat during Halloween. Candy corn is a triangular-shaped candy separated into three distinct colors: white, orange, and yellow. In the Wunderle Candy Company in Philadelphia, a candymaker is sometimes credited with the creation of this unique candy. This tri-colored treat gained great popularity when the Goelitz Company brought the candy to the mainstream in 1898. Candy corn later became associated with Halloween when trick-or-treating grew in popularity in America.
Many people dress up in costumes while trick-or-treating. Back then, most costumes were supposed to be scary to ward off spirits. To avoid being tormented by evil spirits walking on Earth during Samhain, the Celts wore disguises to confuse the spirits. People not only dress up in costumes for trick-or-treating, but they also wear them to parties.
Attending parties is an expected activity during Halloween. One of the first-ever Halloween parties was during All Hallow’s Eve when private parties called “play parties” were hosted. These parties were to celebrate the first harvest and some activities included fortune-telling and scary storytelling. One particularly popular party activity is bobbing for apples. The origins of this tradition are more rooted in romance.
Halloween wouldn’t be complete without one essential element: horror movies. Halloween movies have a long history of commercial success at the box office. The horror movie franchise Halloween sparked the beginning of many other Halloween classics known as “slasher films.” Horror movies spark the anxiety of viewers whether it be jumpscares or plot twists.
While Halloween may be a common holiday for many, many other cultures have similar practices during this time. Many of these holidays acknowledge and honor the spirits of ancestors who have passed. These holidays include, but are not limited to Día de los Muertos, Zhongyuan Festival, Obon, Pchum Ben Day, Gai Jatra, Pitru Paksha, Pangangaluwa, and so many more.
It’s important to recognize the origins of Halloween and understand why we celebrate it today. Halloween is a time for fun and a chance for many to bond with each other. Learning about its history allows us to appreciate the traditions associated with it. Additionally, it’s valuable to acknowledge other festivals that occur around the same time, as not everyone celebrates Halloween.
