Halloween is a time of year when the veil between the living and the dead is said to be at its thinnest. It is a time for scares and mischief. On this night, kids (and adults alike!) get to dress up as everything from scary monsters to funny clowns… but what is it about the holiday that has us all shaking in our boots? Have you ever wondered what the story was behind all the fun?
Halloween is a holiday that was founded in the early fall of the year 1300, according to one popular story. The night before All Saints’ Day, October 31, became a night for children to dress up in costumes and go door-to-door with their parents for treats. The tradition evolved over the years into something more sinister with the incorporation of witches, ghosts, ghouls, and zombies.
In many parts of the world, the day before All Saints’ Day is a time when people would dress in costumes to scare away evil spirits. Halloween got its name from the Gaelic word meaning “All Hallows’ Eve.”
For centuries prior, Christians in Ireland believed that the souls of the dead would be able to reach out and wreak havoc on the living. To keep these spirits from frightening people, they would have bonfires and share food with one another. Believe it or not, this tradition was originally celebrated by satanic pre-Christian Celtic pagans before Christians adopted it for their own purposes. So, Halloween truly is a diverse holiday with traditions that are rooted in Irish, Scottish, and English folklore.
Halloween has been celebrated in the United States since the late 1800s and has quickly become one of the most popular of the American holidays. It was originally established by Irish immigrants who arrived in New England in the early 1700s. The first mention of Halloween being celebrated on October 31st is found in an account of what must have been a child’s celebration, which was recorded by a French missionary priest, Abbé Gregoire de Saint-Etienne, giving testimony to the customs of New France during the 1699 Quebec Act.
Halloween is one of the most anticipated events of the year. It’s a time that many children and adults alike share a common excitement for dressing up as something spooky, wacky, scary, or creative. There are so many different costumes to choose from- from your traditional ghost and witch to something more modern like a pirate or zombie.
What are you going as?
