Halloween: History and Facts
Halloween is just around the corner! Do you know what Halloween is really about? Where it came from? Why we trick or treat? Who started it all? If you don’t, this article will be a flood of information for you!
The real truth is that no one is 100% sure how Halloween originated, but there are some pretty good theories and stories out there.
There are a few main thoughts and timeline events that depict where Halloween and its traditions came from:
1. The Celtic Festival of Samhain(sow-in) was celebrated on November 1st each year over 2,000 years ago. This was believed to be the time when the ghosts of the dead would come back to earth. The Celtics believed that this was because the boundaries between worlds would become weak, allowing them to come back. During the festivals they would wear costumes made of animal skins and heads.
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2. Soon the Roman Empire came into play, and combined a few celebrations together. The celebration now included Samhain, Feralia, which was a roman celebration of the passing of the dead, and a day meant to honor Pomona, a roman goddess of fruit and trees. Pomona is thought to be the origin of the “bobbing for apples” tradition.
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3. Around 1,000 A.D. the church decided to make November 2nd, “All Souls’ Day, honoring the dead. It was celebrated similar to Samhain, costumes, large bon fires, parades, etc. This day was also referred to as All-Hallows, or Hallows Eve.
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4. After these events, Halloween made its way to America. At first it was not celebrated everywhere due to strong Protestant beliefs that surrounded many of the original colonies. It was more relevant in the southern colonies, and soon began to combine with the ways and celebrations of the Europeans and ethnic customs in America.
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5. Gatherings called “play parties” emerged where the public would gather to tell stories of the dead. There would be dancing and singing, this is also the time when “tricks” started to come into play with friends getting into mischief with each other. Unfortunately this mischief often caused vandalism and damage to properties and had to be gotten under control later on.
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6. When the Irish started leaving the potato famine a new tradition emerged from past ones where people would dress up in costumes going door to door asking for money and food. There was also a push of women thinking that they could summon the appearance or name of their future husband using, in plain terms, witchcraft.
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7. Halloween then turned into a more family and community oriented holiday, going heavy on costumes, foods and celebrations, taking away the deadly and ghostly aspects of it. This also aided in ridding the holiday of witchcraft and vandalism.
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Over time Halloween became what it is today, a celebration for children and parents alike, eating candy, and having fun. Creating a sense of community with trick or treating, and socializing with parties and get togethers. Halloween is now an extremely profitable holiday celebrated by a large majority of America.
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