Learning about Halloween's Ancient Origins
Today, Halloween is all about the candy and the tacky decorations. Some even protest in because they believe the holiday contradicts their personal or religious beliefs. But those who focus on the commercial aspects of the holiday or who view it as the day of the devil are ignoring the origins of Halloween. Learning just a little history about the holiday can help to put things in perspective.
Pagan Beginnings
The first people to celebrate what we know today as Halloween were Celtics. Origins of these people can be traced back 2,000 years to ancient Ireland. The Celtic people considered November 1 to be their new year because it marked the end of summer and the beginning of the cold dark period. One of their legends even said that the barrier between the living and the dead was weak on the night before the new year, October 31. They believed that ghosts and spirits would return to the earth on this day.
This event was celebrated with the festival of Samhain. The Celtic people built huge bonfires to burn sacrifices for their deities. It is this ritual, perhaps, that gives Halloween the reputation of being a pagan holiday.
This holiday might not look much like the Halloween it was originally. When the Romans conquered the Celtic peoples, they took this festival and adopted it to their own holiday and belief system. Two Roman festivals, Feralia and Pomona, were held in late October and eventually merged with Samhain. Pomona celebrated the goddess of fruit and trees, which could explain the tradition of bobbing for apples that is now associated with Halloween.
A Christian Influence
When Christianity became popular in Rome, Pope Boniface IV established November 1 as being All Saint's Day, with the purpose being for the holiday to honor martyrs and saints. The pope probably felt that this was a more suitable holiday than the pagan Samhain holiday. October 31 became known as Allshallows. People celebrated by building large bonfires, dressing up as saints and devils, and attending festivals.
An Interesting Twist on Tradition
Halloween is not just about the candy, nor is it an anti-Christian holiday. The origins of Halloween have much to do with world history and religion. Today, the holiday is celebrated in many countries around the world, including Ireland, Mexico, and the United States. The origins of Halloween put an interesting twist on the holiday as we know it today.
