Halloween. The holiday that has become beloved by little children and candy addicts alike. A holiday that brings out the spooky and the kooky in each of us. But on this day of celebration, one can’t help to wonder how this holiday came to be. What is the history of All Hallows Eve?
The origins of Halloween date back to the 8th century. The modern-day holiday originated as All Saints Day declared by Pope Gregory the Third. He proclaimed that it was a day to honor the Saints that came before, to think and remember the bravery and sacrifice of those who have fallen. And thus it came to be. As time went on, the holiday was changed to incorporate Celtic Samhain traditions, to accommodate for the Celtic migrants that began to be present in European society. Those who participated in the Celtic holiday, Festival of Samhian, wore costumes to ward off spirits and believed that lighting a bonfire through the night would protect them from malevolent spirits. All Saints Day became a day of marrienment.
All Saints Day then became All Hallows Eve and the once simple holiday of remembrance and honor became a day to celebrate the harvest and the successes of the fields. Christians in the 10th century introduced the day as All Souls Day. The holiday was declared on November 2nd and remained on that day. All Souls Day began to see traditions that are found in the modern time holiday season. In Ireland and England, the peasants and surfs, if given permission, would go to the richest houses around and would ask for Soul Cakes. Soul Cakes were small round spiced shortbread cakes. These cakes were considered a delicacy only to be eaten on the holiday of All Souls Day and were looked forward to by both rich and poor alike. In exchange, the surfs and peasants would promise to pray for the dead relatives’ souls of those from whom they received cake from. In the following years, ale, money, and food were then asked for in exchange for the prayers; ale was mainly given to adults. It then became known as Souling.
In 1630, with the arrival of the first Protestants to America, so came the change of All Souls Day. The holiday was changed in respect for and among the protestants and the newfound fear of the Supernatural. In the 1600s, the fear of witchcraft and supernatural manners were feared and hunted. People began to fear the holiday in which it was believed that the veil between the malevolent spirits and the world was thinnest. To combat those fears and turn the holiday back into times of merriment, All Hallows Eve became a time of dressing up to ward against spirits and to bring up the spirit of those who participated in the holiday sweets were once again given to those who would dress up and go door to door. Not, unlike the current festivities of modern-day Halloween.
Today, candy and costumes have lost the meaning and intent of scaring aware malicious spirits. Pop Culture, candy companies, and the entertainment industry have promoted the holiday as a day of spooky behavior and sugar highs. So far from the once sacred day of All Saints Day.
