The history

The holiday dates back 2000 years ago, to the times of the ancient Celts. They lived in the area where today is United Kingdom, Ireland, and Northern France. The Celtic name of the holiday was Samhain (pronounced “sow-in”). In Wales the name of the holiday is Hollantide; in Cornwall it is known as Allantide; and in Brittany it is called Kala-Goanv.

The equivalent holiday on the Christian calendar is All Saints' Day. It was introduced by the Catholic Church with the idea to supplant Samhain - the pagan festival of the dead.

The Celts

Celts celebrated the New Year on the first day of November. According to their traditions this was the end of the harvest and the summer as well as the beginning of the darkness and the cold winter. In Celtic’s believes this time of the year was associated with the death.

Ancient Celts had the beliefs that the gate between the worlds of the living and the dead was opened every night before the New Year – on October 31. This was the day Celts celebrated Samhain: the return of the ghosts of the dead to the world of humans.

The bonfires

It was believed that the Celtic priests, called Druids, could make their divinations and predictions about the future exactly in the night of Samhain. They build sacred bonfires, where Celts burned animals and crops in the name of the deities. After the end of the festival people re-lit their hearth fires from the sacred bonfire with the aim to protect their homes during the dark winter.

The costumes

During the Samhian festival, the Celts were dressed in costumes. They were typically representing different animals, by using real animal skins and heads. It was believed that this was the best way to welcome the ghosts on the earth. People could not recognize their friends and neighbours and attempted to share fortunes for the New Year.

How Halloween has changed over the years

The tradition of Halloween was brought to America with the European immigrants, who kept the holiday’s customs.

Two important facts influenced the development of the American version of Halloween:

In the early times of the colonization New England had protestant influence, which strongly limited the Halloween celebration. It was common in the southern colonies and Maryland.

The traditions were mixed with the cultural habits of other Europeans as well as with the beliefs and the customs of the American Indians.

The colonial celebrations

The first rejoicings were organized to celebrate the harvest. They were "play parties," where neighbours got together to share stories of the dead, as well as to sing, dance, and play fortune-telling games. Stories about ghosts and mischief making of all kinds became part of the celebration as well. However, till the first half of the 19th century Halloween was not yet celebrated everywhere in the country.

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The 19^th century

This period was characterized with a new wave of immigrants from Europe. Particularly the immigrants from Ireland helped the popularisation of Halloween in America.

Taking inspiration from Irish and English traditions, Americans began to dress up in different costumes: Witch, Devil, Zombies, Werewolf, Hellraiser, etc. They started the tradition to go house to house asking for food or money. Perhaps this practice initiated today's "trick-or-treat" tradition.

Young women believed that in the night of Halloween, it could be possible to divine the name of their husbands… Different tricks with yarns, apple parings, and mirrors were invented.

The 20^th century

At the beginning of the century, Halloween parties were organized for both children and adults. Parties focused on foods of the season, games, and festive costumes.

Later on Halloween had some difficult times, due to its involvement in vandalism actions. However, in the 50s the holiday was revived. It appeared again with the old traditions of Halloween costumes and fancy dress, and the practice of trick-or-treating. Trick-or-treating was actually an inexpensive way for people to share the Halloween celebration.

Nowadays

The Halloween traditions in United Kingdom still continue. Meanwhile Halloween becomes the second most popular holiday in America. Everywhere celebrating this holiday is a fun filled adventure, which includes great costumes and decorations. This is the special day when kids and adults can express their greatest creative ideas in their Halloween costumes.

Today’s traditions: Halloween costumes and props

The tradition of dressing in costume is related with the beliefs that ghosts come to our world. If you leave your home at the Halloween night it is possible to encounter a ghost. To avoid being recognized by the ghosts, you should wear masks and costumes. To keep ghosts away from your house you have to place bowls of food outside. This is the way the ghosts will stay out and will not make attempts to enter.

It is truth, out of the old beliefs, that Halloween is the most creative of all holidays. People make their costumes and head out for fun and competition. Witch, Big Bad Wolf, Devil, Zombies, Werewolf, Hellraiser, Saw costumes, Chucky costumes and many others are among the favourite Halloween costumes.

People decorate their homes to celebrate the holiday: pumpkins, ghosts, witches, goblins, and spiders, are among the best decorative items.

Whatever you do, the basic point is to have fun!

This night is Halloween!