Halloween Spirits
Traces of Halloween can be found in the ancient Celtic ritual known as Samhain (sow-in). Held on November 1st, the end of harvest and onset of the cold, bleak winter it began the new cycle of life. This was the start of the Celtic New Year. The night before, October 31st, the boundary between the living world and the afterworld was opened and the dead mingled freely among the living. These spirits were powerful and wise.
Around the 19th century, children began playing pranks and people began to fear these "ghosts" as evil.
In the 800's, Pope Boniface IV created All-hallows from the Middle English, Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day. This was to be celebrated on November 1st in an attempt to end Samhain. However, Samhain became known as All Hallows Eve and eventually Halloween.
In the late 1800's, there was a strong effort to change Halloween from a scary, superstitious festival to a family and community holiday. Families held parities for children and scary decorations were abandoned.
The tradition of carving out pumpkins started in Ireland. Originally large turnips, rutabagas, and potatoes were used. Legends tell of an ornery man named Jack. He was a mean man and when he died Heaven turned him away but so did Purgatory because Jack had played terrible tricks on the devil during his life. It was dark and Jack couldn't find his way so the devil tossed him a burning coal, which he promptly put inside a turnip. He was doomed to walk the earth looking for a place to go. He became known as "Jack of the Lantern," or "Jack-o'-lantern." To scare away Jack and other spirits, jack-o'-lanterns are placed outside the front door on the one day where spirits roam the land--Halloween. When immigrants came to the United States they started the tradition of using a pumpkin.
Trick-or-treating originated in England when the poor would beg for food on All Souls' Day. Beggars would receive special treats in exchange for prayers for the dead. In time, children began "begging" for treats on Mischief Night. To avoid tricks, treats were and are given to children.
Today it is popular to have Halloween parties in which the guest dress in costumes and eat strangely decorated food. Children go door to door dressed in costumes and receive candy or trinkets. Many people put out decorations and jack-o-lanterns and watch scary movies. There are also many places that host Haunted Houses, even the local sheriffs' stations.
