Halloween
Halloween is an annual holiday observed on October 31. It has roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian holiday All Saints' Day, but is today largely a secular celebration.
Hundreds of years ago in what is now Great Britain and Northern France, lived the Celts. The Celts celebrated their New Year on November 1st. It was celebrated every year with a festival and marked the end of the "season of the sun" and the beginning of "the season of darkness and cold."
Celts believed that on the night before the New Year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred.
On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence
of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important
source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.
Popular Halloween Traditions & Rituals
Trick or Treating
One of the most widely recognized traditions of Halloween is ‘trick or treating’. On the occasion of Halloween, children donning Halloween costumes go from house to house, asking for treats such as candy. When they ask for candies, they also put up a question to the owners of the house - 'trick or treat'? As Halloween approaches, celebrators, especially, purchase candies or prepare them at home for the children of the neighborhood.
Wearing Costumes
Some Halloween costumes have a traditional association with the occasion. The traditional costumes that can be worn by the celebrators include those of demon, devil, ghost, ghoul, grim reaper, monster, mummy, skeleton, vampire, warlock, werewolf and witches. These costumes are popular till date and are still worn by the people on Halloween parties. However, with time, many new costumes have also come to be donned by people.
Making Jack-O'-Lanterns
Making Jack-O'-Lanterns on Halloween, by carving pumpkins, is the most identified Halloween tradition. A candle is placed inside the hollowed pumpkin and the face is carved in a scary way. Later, the carved pumpkin is given a mass burial. The legend of Jack-O'-Lantern comes from the Irish folklore of Jack. He was an old drunkard who tricked the devil into promising him that his soul would not be taken away by the Devil. After his death, Jack was not allowed in heaven and even the devil did not take him in. Henceforth, Jack hollowed a turnip and put an ember inside him to guide him in darkness and began wandering on earth.
Mythical Creatures
Some mythical creatures, like ghosts, ghouls, Dracula - the blood sucking vampire and mummies, are also traditionally associated with Halloween. In folklores, bats are closely associated with vampires. Evil spirits are also understood to have a traditional connection with Halloween. In fact, the original pagan holiday of Samhain was celebrated to ward off the evil spirits. Black cats too, are one of the traditional creatures Halloween is most recognized with. People use them as props for their Halloween parties, nowadays.
Hundreds of years ago in what is now Great Britain and Northern France, lived the Celts. The Celts celebrated their New Year on November 1st. It was celebrated every year with a festival and marked the end of the "season of the sun" and the beginning of "the season of darkness and cold."
Celts believed that on the night before the New Year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred.
On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence
of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important
source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.
Popular Halloween Traditions & Rituals
Trick or Treating
One of the most widely recognized traditions of Halloween is ‘trick or treating’. On the occasion of Halloween, children donning Halloween costumes go from house to house, asking for treats such as candy. When they ask for candies, they also put up a question to the owners of the house - 'trick or treat'? As Halloween approaches, celebrators, especially, purchase candies or prepare them at home for the children of the neighborhood.
Wearing Costumes
Some Halloween costumes have a traditional association with the occasion. The traditional costumes that can be worn by the celebrators include those of demon, devil, ghost, ghoul, grim reaper, monster, mummy, skeleton, vampire, warlock, werewolf and witches. These costumes are popular till date and are still worn by the people on Halloween parties. However, with time, many new costumes have also come to be donned by people.
Making Jack-O'-Lanterns
Making Jack-O'-Lanterns on Halloween, by carving pumpkins, is the most identified Halloween tradition. A candle is placed inside the hollowed pumpkin and the face is carved in a scary way. Later, the carved pumpkin is given a mass burial. The legend of Jack-O'-Lantern comes from the Irish folklore of Jack. He was an old drunkard who tricked the devil into promising him that his soul would not be taken away by the Devil. After his death, Jack was not allowed in heaven and even the devil did not take him in. Henceforth, Jack hollowed a turnip and put an ember inside him to guide him in darkness and began wandering on earth.
Mythical Creatures
Some mythical creatures, like ghosts, ghouls, Dracula - the blood sucking vampire and mummies, are also traditionally associated with Halloween. In folklores, bats are closely associated with vampires. Evil spirits are also understood to have a traditional connection with Halloween. In fact, the original pagan holiday of Samhain was celebrated to ward off the evil spirits. Black cats too, are one of the traditional creatures Halloween is most recognized with. People use them as props for their Halloween parties, nowadays.