THE EVOLUTION OF HALLOWEEN by Sheryl Jordan

 

Halloween evolved from ancient Celtic rituals to a modern American tradition. Christianity, European myth, and American consumerism have influenced it. There are several schools of thought about the origin of Halloween. The most common is that Halloween dates back over 2,000 years to the Celtic Festival of Samhain in regions now known as Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, which took place each year on October 31^st. The Celts lit bonfires and wore costumes in the belief that ghosts would be warded off. It was thought to be when dead ancestors of the spiritual world could breach the natural world, so they dressed in animal and monster costumes in hopes that fairies wouldn’t kidnap them. Celts believed ghosts returned to earth to claim revenge for their deaths or to have one last chance to be redeemed. After the harvest, Druid priests lit bonfires and prayed throughout the night, trying to foretell if their communities would survive the winter, which was often cold and dark—a time when many died due to the brutal weather and lack of food that came with it.

Later in the seventh century, the Catholic Church designated November 1 as All Saints Day, also called All Hallows, to honor all saints and martyrs of the church. By the ninth century, Christianity had spread to the Celtic regions, changing Celtic beliefs and rituals. Eventually, All Souls Day was established on November 2 to honor the souls of the recently deceased. Many believe the church was attempting to replace the honoring of the dead with a Christian holiday. Years later, the three holidays became Halloween, celebrated in many countries on October 31.

During past festivities, activities and games were similar to those in today’s celebrations of Halloween: bobbing for apples, making jack-o’-lanterns from pumpkins or turnips, and sharing scary stories, to name a few. Trick-or-treating is believed to have developed from the early Celtic rituals of giving soul cakes and food to people who did not have enough food for the winter. During All Saints Day and All Souls Day celebrations in England and Ireland, poor people visited the homes of wealthier families. They received pastries called soul cakes in exchange for a promise to pray for the souls of the homeowners’ dead relatives. The practice known as "souling” was later taken up by children, who would go from door to door asking for gifts such as food, money, or beverages, an early form of trick-or-treating. 

Today, Halloween is celebrated in many ways. People attend costume parties dressed in scary, cutesy, or anything in between attire.    There are trunk-or-treat events where vehicles are lined up in parade style. The children dressed in costumes move to each vehicle, shouting Trick or Treat to receive a treat from the trunks or back of the vehicles. Some people decorate their cars, dress in costumes, and play Halloween music, making the event more festive. Trunk-or-treat events are held in shopping centers, schools, churches, parks, and communities. 

Fall festivals are also popular, creating a carnival-type atmosphere with various games and food. Haunted House attractions offer experiences of being frightened by mummies, monsters, and ghouls jumping out to give a spooky thrill. There are haunted hayrides near wooded areas and farmlands. Theme parks decorated in creepy Halloween fashion offer double the thrill of fast-moving rides and a good scare. During the season, houses are transformed into Halloween sanctuaries, decorated most imaginatively. I have seen houses where the decorations were so elaborate and precisely placed that it took the owners months to decorate and cost thousands of dollars to create and keep the scenes going during the season. What a treat to go for a drive to see houses decorated with orange, purple, and white flashing lights coordinated with the rhythm of songs such as Thriller, Ghostbusters, Bloody Mary, and Somebody’s Watching Me, to name a few. Interestingly, consumers spent over $12 billion on Halloween costumes, decorations, events, and candy in 2023, which is expected to rise even higher in 2024. Some contributing factors are that Halloween is a pastime many people enjoy, and nowadays, it is celebrated in many ways. We can't forget to include our four-legged friends during the festivities. Pet owners dress their adorable fur babies in the cutest pet costumes and enter them in contests, hoping they will be deemed the best dressed, cutest, or spookiest. 

Another Halloween pastime is watching horror movies and reading classic stories such as Dracula and Frankenstein. Whether you prefer horror or comic and nonviolent Halloween stories, there are many movies and books for everyone to enjoy.

I occasionally enjoy watching a good scary movie or reading Halloween-themed stories during the Halloween season. Do you participate in any Halloween celebrations? What are your favorite ways to celebrate? Do you have any recommendations for Halloween-themed movies or books?