Halloween is a holiday celebrated annually on October 31st. This year it occurs on Monday, October 31st. While the modern tradition of Halloween is more about dressing up in costumes and collecting candy, it originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain when people lit bonfires and wore costumes to ward off spirits.
Samhain Throughout the Years
By 43 AD, the Roman Empire had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. Eventually, two festivals of Roman origin ended up combined with the traditional Celtic Samhain. The first Roman festival, known as Feralia, was a day in late October when Romans commemorated the passing of the dead. The second, a day to honor the Roman goddess of fruit and trees: Pomona is most likely the reason bobbing for apples is practiced today on Halloween. Pomona’s symbol is the apple.
On May 13, 609 AD, Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome in honor of all Christian martyrs, ultimately establishing The Catholic feast of All Martyrs Day. Pope Gregory III later expanded the festival to also include saints. The observance moved from the month of May to November 1st. When Christianity’s influence spread into Celtic lands, its traditions and rites slowly blended with and supplanted the older Celtic traditions and rites.
In 1000 AD, the Church made November 2nd All Souls’ Day – a day to honor the dead. This was very similar to the ancient Samhain. Eventually, the traditional night of Samhain came to be called All-Hallows Eve and, eventually, our modern Halloween.
Halloween/Halloweekend Celebrations
Commonly, Americans will celebrate Halloween with parties and get togethers if Halloween falls on a weekend or the weekend prior to Halloween if it falls on a Monday. Colloquially, this has come to be known has Halloweekend.
If you celebrate Halloween/Halloweekend this year, make sure you do so safely:
- At parties or any sort of get together, observe and practice fire safety;
- Keep a close eye on young children at all times;
- Do not drink and drive.
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Info Source: History and Wikipedia
Photo Source: AdobeStock
