Happy Halloween - Some Folklore and History

The origins of Halloween are believed to date back over 2,000 years ago to a Celtic festival known as Samhain. This festival, held around the end of October, marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. The Celts believed the night of October 31 was a day when the living and dead overlapped, and the dead returned to earth. Fearing evil intent from the returned dead, festival goers wore costumes and donned masks so as not to be recognized.

In the 7^th century, All Martyrs Day, November 1^st, became a day to honor all saints and martyrs, in the Roman church.  About 400 years later, the Roman church dedicated November 2^nd, as All Souls Day in honor of the dead. This day was celebrated with dressing up in devil, angel and saint costumes, and with bonfires and parades.  All Saints Day celebration was also referred to as All-hallows and the night before began to be called All-hallows eve which eventually became Halloween. Both All Saints Day and All Souls Day are still celebrated today by Roman Catholics and some Protestants.

Through the centuries, the traditions of feasting, wearing costumes and door-to-door trick-or-treating grew in Europe and eventually came to the United States.  Halloween became the mainstream, money making holiday that we know, with costumes for sale in shops and decorations, candy, etc. beginning in the 1930’s.

Enjoy the day and festivities. Be safe. Share the “history” with the children!