Halloween is recognized by people of different religions and cultures from around the world and there are many traditions associated with this holiday, particularly in the United States.
However, they have deviated greatly from the original religious tradition.
Halloween as we know it today stems from the Celtic Samhain (pronounced Sow-un and roughly meaning “summer’s end” in Old Irish), a pagan holiday. Samhain was a day in the Celtic world that celebrated the end of the harvest and made preparations for winter.
In addition, the Celts believe that on this night, Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, the veil separating our world from the spiritual world is at its thinnest and therefore spirits can cross into our plane of existence. They would attempt to ward off evil spirits by dressing in scary costumes and lighting bon fires.
The modern version of this holiday is vastly different from its ancient origins and has over hundreds of thousands of years become first Christianized, then commercialized.
This dates back to the Middle Ages where poor people would go door to door, during not only Halloween time, or “Hallowmas,” but during Christmas, to beg for food in return for prayers for the dead.
It wasn’t until the last few decades that this practice became really popular in the US and became as commercialized as it is today.
In addition, the Celts would place food outside their homes to appease ghosts and encourage them not to enter their home.
The Jack-o’-lantern, also known as Jack of the lantern, is probably one of the most recognizable Halloween decorations. The folklore associated with this beloved tradition speaks of the story of Stingy Jack.
There are many different versions of this story, but all have elements in common. Essentially Jack tricked the devil into turning himself into a coin, which he then placed in his pocket next to a silver cross. The cross left the devil powerless and trapped. Jack then negotiated with the devil. In exchange for freedom the devil must agree not to claim his soul.
When Jack died he was too sinful for heaven, but could not enter hell either. Jack implored the devil for help, but the devil was angry at being tricked so he sent Jack away with only a hot coal to light his way, which Jack placed in a carved turnip. Jack wanders the earth with his makeshift lantern, in the never-ending search for a final resting place.
People began to make their own Jack-o’-lanterns out of a variety of vegetables to scare away Jack and any other evil spirits that may wander by. The modern version of this, after being commercialized, has morphed into an often cute, yet meaningless decoration.
Costumes, like the Jack-o’-lantern, were used to deter evil spirits from hurting the living; protecting the townspeople from diseases or other tricks the dead may subject them to. The costumes were thought to scare away or help the living blend in with these malicious apparitions.
The idea of celebration during this time is the most everlasting and consistent part of the Halloween tradition. Even though it is no longer a celebration of the end of the harvest season for most, it is still a celebration of the end of summer, even today.
Although we now have a convoluted idea about what this holiday stands for, the tradition still exists.
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