Brief history of how Halloween began in America.
The History of Halloween
Halloween, celebrated every October 31st, has its roots in ancient traditions and festivals. Over the years, it has evolved from a pagan ritual to a day of parties, costumes, and trick-or-treating. So, how did America get hooked on the tradition of consumes and candy?
1. Samhain
The origins of Halloween can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced "SAH-win"). This festival marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. The Celts believed that on the night of October 31, the boundary between the living and the dead became blurred, and the ghosts of the deceased would return to earth.
2. Roman Influence
When the Roman Empire conquered the Celtic territories, they integrated two of their own celebrations with Samhain. The first, Feralia, was a day to honor the dead. The second, a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees, which might be why apples became associated with Halloween.
3. All Hallows' Eve
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With the spread of Christianity, attempts were made to incorporate pagan traditions into Christian observances. November 1 was designated as All Saints' Day, also known as All Hallows. The night before became known as All Hallows' Eve, which later became Halloween.
4. Halloween in America
The traditions of Halloween came to America through immigrants. The Irish, fleeing the Potato Famine in the 1840s, brought with them the tradition of dressing in costumes and going house-to-house asking for food or money. This evolved into what we now know as trick-or-treating.
5. Modern Halloween
Today, Halloween is celebrated with a mix of dress-up, parties, haunted houses, and of course, trick-or-treating. Its pagan origins have mostly been forgotten, but some traditions like bobbing for apples or carving pumpkins (jack-o'-lanterns) persist.
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