Origin Of Halloween

Fun Facts about the Origin of Halloween

Halloween is one of the most ancient holidays celebrated all over the world. It comes second to the most popular occasion which is Christmas. And just like it, many people keep the occasion without really minding the real origin of Halloween or why it is being commemorated.

There are many versions regarding the origin of the customs because different cultures see Halloween quite differently. However, many traditional practices are kept the similar way.

The culture of Halloween may be traced back to the Celtic culture in Ireland, Britain, and the Northern region of Europe where Druids practiced their religion. They celebrated the feast of Samhaim yearly, on October 31st, and it was meant to honor the dead. The feast also signifies the end of the summer and the time to celebrate harvest.

On the night of the festivity, the Celts believed that the souls and spirits of the dead were roaming around their villages. Not all of these roaming spirits were good and friendly, so, treats and other gifts were left outside the homes to pacify them. Appeasing these spirits would help the villagers ensure bountiful crops for the coming year. Obviously, this custom evolved into what we now know as trick-or-treating.

As for the term “Halloween,” it was originally called All Hallows Eve two thousand years ago by the Catholics. This was the eve before All Saints Day—the day that Catholics honored the saints. They used All Hallows Eve as their technique to convert pagans.

Here are other interesting trivia about the holiday:

Bobbing For Apples – When the Celtic people went under the rule of the Roman Empire, they started adapting many rituals which had Roman origins. One of them was worshiping Pomona. She was the goddess of harvest, usually portrayed by a woman sitting on a basket that is filled with flowers and fruits. Apples were sacred to the goddess, so many acts of divination linked to these fruits started evolving in the customs of the Samhaim festival. Now you know why we bob apples on Halloween.

Jack-O-Lantern – This Halloween decoration is also very popular all over the world but did you know that it started as the way to commemorate a wicked Irish villain? Yes, Jack was actually a person! And not a good one at that. The Irish remembered Jack as the villain that was so bad that neither God nor the Devil would take him. Having been unwanted both by the sacred and the profane, Jack endlessly wandered the world, looking for some resting place. His only warmth and protection was a gleaming candle in a decayed turnip. Interesting, right? So this was where the most famous symbol of the holiday came from!

Masquerade Masks – In the old times, these masks were worn when disasters struck. The Celts believed that wearing masquerade masks would scare off the demons that had caused the misfortune and therefore never bother them again.

Aren’t these fun facts great to learn? They certainly make the origin of Halloween remarkable and amazing.