History of Halloween
The Origins of and Story Behind One of America's Strangest Holidays
Sep 28, 2007
The origin of Halloween is a controversial subject, but most scholars connect it to the night of Samhain, (pronounced Sow-in), which was celebrated in Celtic Pagan societies to mark the turn toward the dark part of the year.
Samhain was connected to the harvest and to the belief that during this period, the doors between the spirit world and the world of the dead were ajar, allowing easier passage between the two.
Celts believed that during this period, marauding spirits could cause mischief and damage crops, but also that the presence of spirits made acts of divination easier.
Large sacred bonfires were built by druids, upon which crops and animals were sacrificed to Celtic dieties. Costumes were worn, and hearth fires, which had previously been extinguished, were rekindled from the sacred blaze. Fire was associated with holiness and purity, as well as, of course, warmth during the long, gloomy winter ahead.
These traditional Celtic festivals were combined with the Roman holidays of Feralia, which commemorated the passing of the dead, and a celebration commemorating the goddess of fruit and tress, Pomona, whose symbol was the apple. (this may be the origin of the "bobbing for apples" tradition).
Later, the Catholic Church co-opted the holiday and set November 1st as All-Saints' Day. Later Novemer 2nd would be made All-Souls' Day in 1000 A.D., and commemorated in a similar fashion, with bonfires and costumed parades. Together these three festivals were called "Hallowmass."
It wasn't until the 19th Century that Halloween came to the United States, following the waves of immigration from Ireland during the potato famine of the mid-19th Century.
Commercialization of the holiday began in the 20th Century, with a variety of Halloween cards being produced near the turn of the century by the Hallmark company, and mass-produced Halloween costumes making their appearance on the scene in the 1930s. The establishment of Trick or Treating as the focal point of the holiday was not complete until the 1950s.
Currently Halloween is one of the most popular of American holidays, and one of the most commercially successful. The celebration has become increasingly popular abroad as well, due to the influence of American popular culture. Halloween parties and celebrations have spread as far as Australia, Russia, and Western Europe, though in some of these places Halloween is viewed as simply an excuse to wear costumes and throw a party, or is viewed as part of the general, viral spread of American culture abroad.
