It’s time…for ghosts, goblins, witches, warlocks, and, of course, the dead. It’s Halloween. But what was it about in ancient times, and where did it begin?

The customs of Halloween can be traced back to the Druid priests of the Celtics. It was the second most significant holiday of their year. The first was Beltane – the growing season celebrated from April 30– May 1. The second, October 31, was Samhain when the crops were reaped. It was believed that by harvesting all the crops by October 31, there would be no damage to them by ‘evil or mischievous spirits’ who’d return on the first evening of the dark half of the year. 

Druid rituals, deeply ingrained in the Celtic belief system, consisted of lighting huge bonfires, animal sacrifice, and burnt offerings of foods. The priests disguised themselves with animal masks to confuse the spirits.

When Christian missionaries set out to convert England, Pope Gregory, the head of the Church from 590 to 604 A.D., advised them not to force the conversion to end their culture but to incorporate as much of it as possible. It wasn’t a far stretch to succeed since saints in Christianity were credited with miraculous events that were supernatural in nature. Thus, the name Samhain, on October 31, morphed into All Hallows Eve – the night before the saints were revered. 

All Hallows Eve, over time, became Halloween, and the old beliefs did not completely disappear. The concept of spirits returning survived, and Christianized customs grew out of the old ways, with each country developing its own practices.    

In France, Halloween holds little attraction or fanfare. It is considered a very American tradition, and the French are never anxious to adopt American ways. Halloween in France is overshadowed by All Saints Day, on November 1, a national public holiday. The French attend specific religious services and visit cemeteries to lay flowers on deceased relatives’ graves.

The same may be said for the Netherlands. They, too, consider Halloween an American and commercial endeavor rather than a cultural institution. On November 11, the Dutch observe Sint-Marten, a children’s feast that resembles the American celebration of Halloween and is more widely practiced.

In Asia, Halloween has become popular. Hong Kong, the American festival has caught on, and in Japan, where it was first celebrated at the 2000 Tokyo Disneyland, it has taken on a life of its own. 

In Haiti, Fet Gede, or the Festival of the Dead, has an entirely different cultural backdrop. On November 1, All Saints, and on November 2, All Souls, those who practice Voodoo, the Vodouisants, pay their respects to Baron Samedi, the father of deceased spirits. Vodouisants dance in the streets, commune with the dead, and walk through graveyards, leaving food for their ancestors from their own tables. It more resembles Mardi Gras than Halloween.

In Italy, La Festa di Ognissanti (the feast of All Saints) or Hallowmas – short for All Hallows Mass, on November 1, is celebrated by spending time with family. On all Souls, Italians leave chrysanthemums on loved ones’ graves and bake cookies called fave dei morti. They are made with almond, butter, and flour and represent the beans of the dead, a tradition that has survived from ancient Roman times, when beans were used in funerary rites. 

Perhaps my favorite Halloween ritual is from Mexico: Dia de Los Muertos – the Day of the Dead. Mexicans wear bright makeup and dazzling costumes to parade, sing, and dance. A unique aspect of Dia de Los Muertos is the building of altars in tribute to deceased ancestors. Upon these altars are sugar skull-shaped confections and bottles of tequila, along with flowers and pictures of the dead. These offerings are believed to attract the spirits and reunite them with their living families. Other traditions include gathering at the cemeteries dressed in eye-catching costumes with colorful floral decorations, including symbolic marigolds. There, they enjoy traditional foods like pan de muerto (bread of the dead) and Calaveras (sugar skulls). From Mexico, we come to the United States, where all of our American Halloween traditions evolved from other countries.

Carved Jack-o-Lanterns began with a legend about a man named Stingy Jack who trapped the Devil and only let him go on condition that Jack would never go to Hell. When Jack died, Heaven didn’t want him, so he wandered the earth as a ghost for eternity, with a burning lump of coal in a carved-out turnip (now a pumpkin) to light his way. Eventually, people began carving frightening faces on their pumpkins to scare away evil spirits.

The custom of wearing creepy costumes began with Samhain. The Celts believed that in costume, they would be mistaken for ghosts and left alone by actual spirits. And then, there is Trick-or-Treat. 

One theory is that during the Middle Ages, on All Souls Day, children and some adults collected food and money from neighbors in return for their prayers for the dead. Eventually, that was replaced with non-religious practices, including songs, jokes, and other tricks if the treat wasn’t forthcoming. The ritual of door-to-door seeking handouts has long been part of Halloween, but we are long past the days of giving fruits, nuts, coins, and toys. We now are every dentist’s dream, devouring $3 billion-plus dollars of candy.

Bobbing for Apples is not as American as Apple Pie. It stems back to a courtship ritual of the Roman festival honoring Pomona, the goddess of agriculture and abundance. Young men and women could “predict their future relationships based on the game. When the Romans conquered the British Isles in 43 A.D,” the Pomona festival melded with Samhain. 

No discussion would be complete without Pranking. Playing pranks varied by region, but the pre-Halloween tradition known as “Devil’s Night” included good-natured mischief. When Irish and Scottish immigrants came to the U.S., they brought the practice of celebrating Mischief Night as part of Halloween.

Igniting huge bonfires also began with the Druids, and over time, believed to light the way for souls seeking the afterlife. Bonfires are no longer common, at least not in big cities. In today’s world, souls need good eyesight because the most they get is candlelight.

  So, my witches, warlocks, ghosts, goblins, and mischief makers, you now have some customs, traditions, and history. Enjoy it with the candy and treats. 

Happy Halloween! Francine Paino  a.k.a. F. Della Notte