History of Halloween

Halloween is also known as All Hallows’ Eve, and falls on the night before the Christian ceremony, All Hallow. (Also known as All Saint’s day.) This fact drives many people to believe that Halloween is a Christian ceremony, yet many historians argue that it is the Pagan religion which spawned our autumn celebrations.

Although there is little doubt that the name Halloween did derive from the Christians, the actual meaning is commonly thought of in relation to the Samhain, a Celtic harvest festival meaning Summer’s End. The date of 31st October was said to be the end of the light half of the year, and the beginning of the dark. The actual celebration span for an average of three days, and included a bonfire ritual where people would walk between two burning piles as a form of spiritual cleansing, whilst bones of cattle were thrown into the flames.

This was marked as one of the most important days of the year, and it was believed that it was also a time of magic. It was the time of year when the supernatural realm collided with our physical world, allowing the souls of the dead to revisit their former homes. Huge bonfires were built to warn away any unwanted spirits, and the occasional animal sacrifice was held to seek the protection from the Gods.

The Christian interpretation has also been incorporated into our idea of Halloween, with the belief that All saint’s day was the final day which souls of the dead could wander, making All Hallow’s eve the last opportunity for the dead to take revenge upon the living. As a form of disguise, Christians would wear masks and costumes in an attempt to remain safe from such fearsome ghosts.