Tasneem Sariya
Spooky, yet festive, Halloween is celebrated on the 31st of October each year in many parts of the world. The true essence of Halloween fuels scares, eeriness and mystifying phenomena, but it has been largely commercialised in recent times as a fun holiday season that celebrates traditional elements. As costumes, trick-or-treats, jack-o-lanterns and bonfires take centre stage, a date with the dead seems a bit far-fetched, in modern times. Nonetheless, the festivities are an enjoyable social and cultural experience.
Origin of Halloween
It is believed that Halloween originated in the Celtic festival called Samhain. About 2000 years ago, Celts lived in what is today Ireland, the UK and parts of France. The 1st of November was celebrated as the New Year. It marked the beginning of the winter and the end of the summer and harvest season. Celts believed that on the last night of the year the boundaries between the worlds of living and dead blurred and hence, the dead returned to earth. Not only that, the dead could also speak to the living or seek revenge on this night.
The pagan celebration was soon Christianized, but some of the earlier traditions were retained. Pope Gregory III established 1 November as All Saints Day to honour saints. The preceding evening was called All Hallows Eve, which was later shortened to Halloween.
Besides, Halloween is the first day of the three days of the Christian triduum dedicated to the dead. Halloween (31st October) is followed by All Saints Day (1st November) and All Souls Day (2nd November).
However, some experts believe that Halloween in fact, originated in the USA in the 19th century. It was started by the Irish who immigrated to the country and brought their traditions and festivals, including All Saints Day. On All Saints Day, a grand feast was held to celebrate those in heaven. But, the night before, vigils were held for those souls who were stranded in between, those not in heaven yet, but not alive either. Though the origin of Halloween cannot be pinpointed to a single explanation, its association with the dead, ghosts and horror makes it an intriguing celebration.
Spread and Evolution
Several countries in the world have records of rituals focused on those who have passed on to another realm. Whether it is Mexico’s Day of the Dead or Tomb Sweeping Day in China, the fixations to understanding and communicating with the dead were found in the earliest civilizations. Halloween is celebrated on those fundamentals too, but has over time, become a holiday festival, especially in the USA and Canada.
Initially, Halloween celebrations were centred in areas around New England and the southern colonies. However, over time, the culture of the European immigrants and Americans merged to form a vibrant Halloween celebration. By the latter half of the 19th century, Halloween had become a popular festivity across the USA. Halloween spread further across the globe in the 20th century, including in Asian and European countries.
Halloween Celebrations
Halloween is observed with much enthusiasm in different parts of the world with the traditional celebrations still largely remaining.
Samhain celebrations of Halloween included stacking provisions for winter, slaughtering animals and lighting bonfires. (Bonfires, derived from bone fires). The community gathered, feasting and enjoying, however, aware that they could be joined by those already dead. The loved dead ones were always welcome, but spirits who were wronged were expected too. Thus, the concept of wearing masks and costumes was to avoid being recognized by avenging souls.
Similarly, jack-o-lanterns have a story of their own from Ireland. Stingy Jack, as legend says, was wandering as a ghost and was given a carved turnip with lighted coal by the Devil. People started carving turnips to frighten the evil spirit. However, it was easier to carve pumpkins and the tradition of scary pumpkin faces on Halloween continues to date.
Trick-or-treating has varying explanations. Some believe that during Samhain the Celtics left food for the spirits travelling across earth. In modern times, the German-American ritual of Christmas, known as belsnickeling seems like a better reason. Children dressed in costumes visit their neighbours to see if they recognize the disguise. If no one could identify them, the kids were treated to food and goodies.
Halloween Today
By the 1950s Halloween parties and parades were a hit and costumes, bonfires, bobbing apples, candy corn etc. were a part of Halloween celebrations. In 2023 Americans were estimated to spend more than $12 billion on Halloween, suggesting that after Christmas, it is the most popular and celebrated festival holiday.
Halloween has found a place in popular culture, be it in cinema, media, merchandise, entertainment and more. Rooted in tradition, it finds its place in the modern world as a fashionable, fun, yet symbolic revelry. Death, ghosts, theafterworld, good & evil or transcendental philosophies are all ideas that have fascinated mankind for ages. Halloween is a celebration, an acknowledgement and a quirky take on more serious matters of the soul and mind. Perhaps, that is what makes it all the more enticing and bewitching!