Ghosts and ghouls, tricks and treats, these are some of the things that tie us to one of the most celebrated holidays in the year, Halloween. You may remember being a kid and dressing up as your favorite superhero and knocking on all your neighbors’ doors asking them for a trick or a treat, but was it always this way?
The date of which Halloween originated has not been found out yet by historians but they sum it up to be about 2,000 years ago in Europe. A group of people called the Celtics had come together and celebrated in a festival called Samhain as a celebration to welcome the harvest at the end of summer. During this festival there is dancing, feasting on a variety of foods such as turkey and pies as well as dressing up as scary monsters to scare away ghosts. There are also nature walks and the building of altars to honor ancestors. Many ask, “Why the 31st?” and the answer to this question is simple. October 31st is the Eve of all Saints Day in which Christians remember and honor their dead.
Though this holiday was started in Europe, American colonists were responsible for bringing this holiday to America. The reasoning for why Americans celebrated had differed from why the Celtics celebrated it. The Celtics had celebrated to welcome the fall and harvest as well as to honor their ancestors who have died. Americans celebrate to keep the restless spirits at ease. The reason for this change in celebration was because of the appropriation done by the Catholic church some 1,200 years ago. Even the traditions like pumpkin carving and dressing up have their own history behind them. Many of the traditions of Halloween have had different origin stories and different meanings but it all comes back to the celebration of the Harvest and the honoring of ancestors.
Many theories have arisen on whether the Celts did trick or treating as a way to get the food offerings that the locals had been giving the spirits. Others say it was a way for children to dress up and have their neighbors guess who they were and in return the children would get candy. Nonetheless trick or treating has been one of the most popular traditions to do during Halloween.
Even with all the history of Halloween, it never gets old having to dress up and get free candy. As well as stay up all night long with your friends and family. Dress up as your favorite ghoul or gal and take a night out on the town.
