Halloween, Hallowe'en, Oíche Shamhna or All Hallows' Eve is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31st. In modern times the typical festive Halloween activities include trick-or-treating (also known as "guising"), attending costume parties, carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted attractions, playing pranks, telling scary stories, and watching horror films. Halloween is often thought of been a 'modern' holiday but in fact it originates back to the time of the Celts.
Halloween is typically linked to the Celtic festival of "Samhain" (pronounced Sah-win), which comes from the old Irish for "summer's end". Samhain was the first and most important of the four quarter days in the medieval Gaelic calendar. It was held on or about October 31st - November 1st and kindred festivals were held at the same time of year in other Celtic lands.
Samhain is mentioned in some of the earliest Irish literature and many important events in Irish mythology happen or begin on Samhain. It marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the 'darker half' of the year. This was a time for stock-taking and preparing for the cold winter ahead; cattle were brought back down from the summer pastures and livestock were slaughtered. In much of the Gaelic world, bonfires were lit and there were rituals involving them. Some of these rituals hint that they may once have involved human sacrifice.Divination(fortune telling) games or rituals were also done at Samhain.
Samhain (like Beltane,sunset April 30th - sunset May 1st) was seen as a time when the 'door' to the Otherworld opened enough for the souls of the dead, and other beings such as fairies, to come into our world.The souls of the dead were said to revisit their homes on Samhain. Feasts were had, at which the souls of dead kin were beckoned to attend and a place set at the table for them. However, harmful spirits and fairies were also thought to be active at Samhain. People took steps to allay or ward-off these harmful spirits/fairies, which is thought to have influenced today's Halloween customs. Before the 20th century, wearing costumes at Samhain was done in parts of Ireland, Mann, the Scottish Highlands and islands, and Wales. Wearing costumes may have originated as a means of disguising oneself from these harmful spirits/fairies, although some suggest that the custom comes from a Christian belief.
In the 19th century on Ireland's southern coast, a man dressed as a white mare would lead youths door-to-door collecting food; by giving them food, the household could expect good fortune from the 'Muck Olla'. In Moray(Scotland) during the 18th century, boys called at each house in their village asking for fuel for the Samhain bonfire. Trick-or-treating may have come from the custom of going door-to-door collecting food for Samhain feasts, fuel for Samhain bonfires and/or Samhain offerings for the spirits and fairies. Making jack-o'-lanterns at Halloween may also have sprung from Samhain and Celtic beliefs. Turnip lanterns, sometimes with faces carved into them, were made on Samhain in the 19th century in parts of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands. As well as being used to light one's way while outside on Samhain night, they may also have been used to represent the spirits/fairies and/or to protect oneself and one's home from them.
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| Celtic Turnip lantern |
Halloween is also thought to have been influenced by the Christian holy days of All Saints' Day (also known as All Hallows, Hallowmas or Hallowtide) on November 1st and All Souls' Day on November 2nd. They were a time for honouring the saints and praying for the recently departed who had yet to reach Heaven. All Saints was introduced in the year 609, but was originally celebrated on May 13th. In 835, it was switched to November 1st (the same date as Samhain) at the behest of Pope Gregory IV.
By the end of the 12th century they had become holy days of obligation across Europe and involved such traditions as ringing bells for the souls in purgatory. "Souling", the custom of baking and sharing soul cakes for "all crysten christened souls", has been suggested as the origin of trick-or-treating. Groups of poor people, often children, would go door-to-door on All Saints/All Souls collecting soul cakes, originally as a means of praying for souls in purgatory. Similar practices for the souls of the dead were found as far south as Italy
The custom of wearing costumes has been linked to All Saints/All Souls by Prince Sorie Conteh, who wrote: "It was traditionally believed that the souls of the departed wandered the earth until All Saints' Day, and All Hallows' Eve provided one last chance for the dead to gain vengeance on their enemies before moving to the next world. In order to avoid being recognised by any soul that might be seeking such vengeance, people would don masks or costumes to disguise their identities".
In Britain, these customs came under attack during the Reformation as Protestants berated purgatory as a "popish" doctrine. This, coupled with the rising popularity of Guy Fawkes Night (November 5th) from 1605 onward, led to Halloween's popularity waning in Britain, with the noteworthy exception of Scotland.
Halloween spreads to North America:
In North Americaa during the late 18th and early 19th century there is no indication that Halloween was recognized as a holiday there. The Puritans of New England, for example, maintained strong opposition to the holiday and it was not until the mass Irish and Scottish immigration during the 19th century that the holiday was brought to North America. Confined to the immigrant communities during the mid-19th century, it was gradually assimilated into mainstream society and by the first decade of the 20th century it was being celebrated coast to coast by people of all social, racial and religious backgrounds.
Around the world:
Halloween customs have spread since the 1990s in continental Europe, starting in France and the holiday has become increasingly popular in Belgium, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, and Austria since the early 1990s. Halloween is more successful and partially ousting some older customs like the Rübengeistern (turnip ghosts), Martinisingen and others.
In Mexico, Halloween has been celebrated since roughly 1960. There, celebrations have been influenced by the American traditions, such as the costuming of children who visit the houses of their neighbourhood in search of candy. Usually kids stop by at peoples' houses, knock on their door or the ring the bell and say "¡Noche de Brujas, Halloween!" ('Witches' Night, Halloween!') or "¡Queremos Haloween!" (We want Halloween!)Halloween in Mexico begins three days of consecutive holidays, as it is followed by All Saints' Day, which also marks the beginning of the two day celebration of the Day of the Dead or the Día de los Muertos.
In parts of Central and South America, kids will pay a visit to their neighbours and yell "¡Dulce o Truco!" ('Sweet or Trick!') in order to get candy, while in Brazil kids yell "Gostosuras ou travessuras!" (in Brazil, Halloween is not commonly practiced, but some schools throw Halloween-themed parties)
In Colombia children dress up and visit their neighbours chanting "¡Triqui triqui halloween, Quiero dulces para mi, Si no hay dulces para mi, Se le crece la nariz!" (Tricky tricky halloween, I want candy for me, If there is no candy for me, Your nose will grow!)
Halloween arrived only recently in Japan. The wearing of costumes is mostly limited to private home parties, On a national scale trick-or-treating is largely unpractised. Halloween in Hong Kong has two traditions. The first involves the event called "Yue Lan" (Festival of the Hungry Ghosts). Its emphasis is less on celebration, rather it is an opportunity to give gifts to spirits of the dead to provide comfort and ward them off.The second and more commercialized event is celebrated by expatriate Americans or Canadians. Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park (Halloween Bash) host annual Halloween shows. Lan Kwai Fong bars will be decked out with Halloween decorations to lure ex-pats and locals interest in Halloween.
In Saint Helena, Halloween is actively celebrated, largely along the American model, with ghosts, skeletons, devils, vampires, witches and the like. Imitation pumpkins are used instead of real pumpkins because the pumpkin harvesting season in Saint Helena's hemisphere is not near Halloween. Trick-or-treating is widespread.
Filipinos celebrate Halloween on a largely commercial level, as it is overshadowed by the traditional keeping of Undás/Araw ng mga Patay (Day of the Dead), or All Saints' and All Souls' Days.
Celtic/Gaelic Traditions:
*Some of the traditions are no longer in practice
The custom of wearing costumes has been linked to All Saints/All Souls by Prince Sorie Conteh, who wrote: "It was traditionally believed that the souls of the departed wandered the earth until All Saints' Day, and All Hallows' Eve provided one last chance for the dead to gain vengeance on their enemies before moving to the next world. In order to avoid being recognised by any soul that might be seeking such vengeance, people would don masks or costumes to disguise their identities".
In Britain, these customs came under attack during the Reformation as Protestants berated purgatory as a "popish" doctrine. This, coupled with the rising popularity of Guy Fawkes Night (November 5th) from 1605 onward, led to Halloween's popularity waning in Britain, with the noteworthy exception of Scotland.
Halloween spreads to North America:
In North Americaa during the late 18th and early 19th century there is no indication that Halloween was recognized as a holiday there. The Puritans of New England, for example, maintained strong opposition to the holiday and it was not until the mass Irish and Scottish immigration during the 19th century that the holiday was brought to North America. Confined to the immigrant communities during the mid-19th century, it was gradually assimilated into mainstream society and by the first decade of the 20th century it was being celebrated coast to coast by people of all social, racial and religious backgrounds.
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| Modern Trick or Treating |
Around the world:
Halloween customs have spread since the 1990s in continental Europe, starting in France and the holiday has become increasingly popular in Belgium, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, and Austria since the early 1990s. Halloween is more successful and partially ousting some older customs like the Rübengeistern (turnip ghosts), Martinisingen and others.
In Mexico, Halloween has been celebrated since roughly 1960. There, celebrations have been influenced by the American traditions, such as the costuming of children who visit the houses of their neighbourhood in search of candy. Usually kids stop by at peoples' houses, knock on their door or the ring the bell and say "¡Noche de Brujas, Halloween!" ('Witches' Night, Halloween!') or "¡Queremos Haloween!" (We want Halloween!)Halloween in Mexico begins three days of consecutive holidays, as it is followed by All Saints' Day, which also marks the beginning of the two day celebration of the Day of the Dead or the Día de los Muertos.
In parts of Central and South America, kids will pay a visit to their neighbours and yell "¡Dulce o Truco!" ('Sweet or Trick!') in order to get candy, while in Brazil kids yell "Gostosuras ou travessuras!" (in Brazil, Halloween is not commonly practiced, but some schools throw Halloween-themed parties)
In Colombia children dress up and visit their neighbours chanting "¡Triqui triqui halloween, Quiero dulces para mi, Si no hay dulces para mi, Se le crece la nariz!" (Tricky tricky halloween, I want candy for me, If there is no candy for me, Your nose will grow!)
Halloween arrived only recently in Japan. The wearing of costumes is mostly limited to private home parties, On a national scale trick-or-treating is largely unpractised. Halloween in Hong Kong has two traditions. The first involves the event called "Yue Lan" (Festival of the Hungry Ghosts). Its emphasis is less on celebration, rather it is an opportunity to give gifts to spirits of the dead to provide comfort and ward them off.The second and more commercialized event is celebrated by expatriate Americans or Canadians. Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park (Halloween Bash) host annual Halloween shows. Lan Kwai Fong bars will be decked out with Halloween decorations to lure ex-pats and locals interest in Halloween.
In Saint Helena, Halloween is actively celebrated, largely along the American model, with ghosts, skeletons, devils, vampires, witches and the like. Imitation pumpkins are used instead of real pumpkins because the pumpkin harvesting season in Saint Helena's hemisphere is not near Halloween. Trick-or-treating is widespread.
Filipinos celebrate Halloween on a largely commercial level, as it is overshadowed by the traditional keeping of Undás/Araw ng mga Patay (Day of the Dead), or All Saints' and All Souls' Days.
Celtic/Gaelic Traditions:
*Some of the traditions are no longer in practice
- Colcannon for Dinner: Boiled Potato, Curly Kale (a cabbage) and raw Onions are provided as the traditional Irish Halloween dinner. Clean coins are wrapped in baking paper and placed in the potato for children to find and keep.
- The Barnbrack Cake: The traditional Halloween cake in Ireland is the barnbrack which is a fruit bread. Each member of the family gets a slice. Great interest is taken in the outcome as there is a piece of rag, a coin and a ring in each cake. If you get the rag then your financial future is doubtful. If you get the coin then you can look forward to a prosperous year. Getting the ring is a sure sign of romance or continued happiness. (Still a popular tradition in Ireland)
- The Ivy Leaf: Each member of the family places a perfect ivy leaf into a cup of water and it is then left undisturbed overnight. If, in the morning, a leaf is still perfect and has not developed any spots then the person who placed the leaf in the cup can be sure of 12 months health until the following Halloween. If not.....
- The Turnip: Carving turnips dates back to an Irish blacksmith named Jack who colluded with the Devil and was denied entry to Heaven. He was condemned to wander the earth but asked the Devil for some light. He was given a burning coal ember which he placed inside a turnip that he had gouged out. Villagers in Ireland hoped that the lantern in their window would keep the wanderer away. When the Irish emigrated in millions to America there was not a great supply of turnips so pumpkins were used instead.
- The Bonfire: The Halloween bonfire is a tradition to encourage dreams of who your future husband or wife is going to be. The idea was to drop a cutting of your hair into the burning embers and then dream of you future loved one. Halloween was one of the Celt 'fire' celebrations.
- Anti-Fairy Measures: Fairies and goblins try to collect as many souls as they can at Halloween but if they met a person who threw the dust from under their feet at the Fairy then they would be obliged to release any souls that they held captive.
- Holy water was sometimes anointed on farm animals to keep them safe during the night. If the animals were showing signs of ill health on All Hallows Eve then they would be spat on to try to ward off any evil spirits.
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