The Oct. 31 date, carving pumpkins, ghost stories and even bobbing for apples are all things that come to mind when Halloween approaches. Parties get planned, costume ideas fly, and trick-or-treating is scheduled all in preparation of this seasonal celebration. However, a lot of people go through the motions every year without knowing why they’re going door-to-door asking for candy or why they’re gutting a pumpkin. Halloween wasn’t just invented by the candy companies, it’s actually rich in history.
Halloween originated with the Celtic festival of Samhain, which celebrated the new year, Nov. 1, according to history.com. The night before the New Year was believed to be a time when souls of the dead and other creatures could be among the living. The Celts would wear costumes (such as animal skins and heads); and attempt to tell each other’s fortunes and share stories and sacrifice food and animals to the spirits in hopes that the souls wouldn’t harm them or their crops.
Among the food being left out for the spirits were hollowed and carved turnips with lumps of burning coal inside. This represented a trapped soul, according to Samhain Tradition and Lore. Turnips weren’t the only food used for representation; Celtic women would tell fortunes with the use of apples. Apples were said to be a symbol of fertility, and since Halloween was believed to be a time when clearer glimpses of the future could be seen, apples were used to find a woman’s husband or find which woman was next in line to get married.
The women would race, much like the tradition of catching the bouquet at a wedding, to catch a floating apple with their teeth. The first woman to snatch an apple was said to be the next to get married. Nowadays, however, even though women and girls still catch the bouquet, most take marriage a little more seriously than a Halloween game.
“I don’t think we believe now what the Celtics did because we realize marriage is a lot more than ‘getting the first apple.’ It’s love and trust and definitely doesn’t involve bobbing.” Said Julie Twidwell, Clarion senior.
In the 800s, Christianity had spread throughout the Celtic regions, and Pope Boniface IV, in an alleged attempted to stifle pagan rituals and keep the people happy at the same time, designated Nov. 1 as All Saints Day. The day before would then be referred to as All Hallows Eve, later to be translated as Hallowe’en and finally Halloween.
The church discouraged the sacrifices and act of leaving out food for the spirits, according to about.com. The people found a replacement by using different names, such as “mumming,” souling” or even “going a-souling.” People still dressed up in costume not only like the Celts had, but also to hide themselves from spirits they might encounter. The costumes were an attempt to blend in with witches and ghosts. In addition to dressing up, people now went door-to-door exchanging prayers for loved souls that had passed away in exchange for treats including “soul cakes.” This practice was eventually only taken up by children.
Halloween wasn’t a big celebration in America until many Irish immigrants started pouring into the country after the potato famine in 1846. Many Irish and Celtic traditions were introduced, and these included the festivities of Halloween. A lot of these activities were Americanized; these included trick-or-treating, jack-o’-lanterns, bobbing for apples and the celebration in general.
Jack-o’-lanterns, meaning “man with a lantern” began being carved out of pumpkins instead of turnips merely because pumpkins were found easier to carve and native to America.
Trick-or-treating and bobbing for apples lost their superstitious origins over the years and became secular events geared more toward children. By the late 1800s, Halloween was molded into a holiday that was more for neighborly get-togethers and harvest celebrations rather than any religious or magical aspect.
Halloween erupted and changed one more time with the baby boom of the 1950s. Frightening things were turned away; trick-or-treating was seen as an inexpensive way for whole communities to get involved and more schools began holding Halloween parties. Now, Halloween parties and even ghost stories are even more popular and are also often school functions even at the college level. Clarion University has had multiple festive activities throughout campus. On Oct. 1, transitions helped students to get into the Halloween spirit by throwing a Halloween party in Gemmell.
“It was the perfect mix for a Halloween party. There was food and games and it ended up being a really good time and got me ready for Halloween.” Said Fran Dubs, a student who attended the party.
A combination of old beliefs and new marketing has made Halloween into the holiday we see today. In America alone $6.9 billion is spent on Halloween, which makes it this country’s second biggest commercial holiday.