The Origins of Halloween

By Erica Dial
Halloween has just passed us, and the Charger staff thought it appropriate to take a look at the origins of Halloween, or All Hallows' Eve, as it was originally called. The word Halloween was first used in the sixteenth century and represents a Scottish variant of All Hallows' Eve, the night before All Hallows' Day. Despite pagan roots, the etymology of the word is strictly Christian.

Scholars who have studied the holiday have found that All Hallows' Eve incorporated traditions from pagan harvest festivals, as well as festivals honoring the dead. While some folklorists have detected its origins in the Roman feast of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds, or in the festival of the dead called Parentalia, it is more closely tied with the Celtic festival of Samhain, meaning “summer's end”. This time of year was used for stock-taking and preparation for the vicious winter months ahead. There was a strong superstitious feel at this time of year; many folks believed that the physical and supernatural worlds were closest at this time and that magical things were more likely to happen. To ward off spirits, the Gaels built huge bonfires and asked for the help of the gods through animal and – allegedly – human sacrifices.
Halloween is believed to have been heavily influenced by Christian “holy days”, such as All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Collectively these holidays were a time for honoring saints and praying for those who had recently passed. It was believed that the souls of the departed wandered the earth until All Saints' Day, and All Hallows' Eve was the last day for the dead to seek vengeance on those who had wronged them in life. To avoid being recognized by the dead, Christians would wear masks and costumes in order to disguise themselves. This tradition is perpetuated to this day by children dressing up for trick-or-treating.
Whatever the “true” origins of Halloween may be, I think we can all agree that it is an enchanting time of the year. From spooky decorations to plastic jack-o-lanterns filled to the brim with candy, Halloween is a holiday for all to enjoy.