Halloween, short for “All Hallows’ Eve,” has its origins in ancient Celtic and Christian traditions. Halloween can be traced back to the Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced “sow-in”), which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter in what is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France. Samhain was celebrated around November 1st, and it was a time when people believed that the boundary between the living and the dead was blurred. It was thought that the spirits of the dead returned to the earthly realm during this time.
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In the 8th century, the Christian Church attempted to replace the Celtic festival with a Christian holiday. Pope Gregory III declared November 1st as All Saints’ Day (or All Hallows’ Day), a day to honor all saints and martyrs. The evening before, October 31st, came to be known as All Hallows’ Eve, which eventually became Halloween.
In the 10th century, November 2nd was designated as All Souls’ Day, a day to pray for the souls of the departed. The combination of All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day created a three-day observance known as Hallowmas.
Over time, the traditions of Samhain and the Christian observances of Hallowmas began to blend. People continued to light bonfires, wear costumes, and engage in activities that were reminiscent of Samhain, including the belief that the spirits of the dead roamed the earth. This blending of traditions contributed to the development of modern Halloween customs.
Halloween as we know it today was further shaped by Irish and Scottish immigrants who brought their Halloween customs to North America in the 19th century. These traditions included costume-wearing, carving turnips or later pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns, and going door-to-door for treats.
In the 20th century, Halloween became increasingly commercialized, with the focus shifting from religious and superstitious practices to a holiday centered around costumes, decorations, parties, and trick-or-treating.
