Where Does the Halloween Tradition Come From?

By Abigail Lashmar 

Halloween is celebrated on October 31st every year.  The ancient Celtic festival, “Samhain,” is what originated the Halloween tradition.  During the festival of Samhain, individuals would often wear costumes and light bonfires to ward off ghosts. In and around the eighth century; Pope Gregory III classified November 1st as “All Saints Day,” with the day before being called “All Hallows Eve.”   All Hallows Eve later came to be known as Halloween.  November first was considered the day that summer and harvest ended, signifying the beginning of a dark and chilly winter.  Human death was a common connotation during this time as well. It was believed by the Celts that October 31st was the day that ghosts could return to earth. Or at least in some way it was believed on this day humans were able to come in contact with the dead. Hence, the drive to ward off ghosts. These individuals also held the belief that the presence of these spirits made it significantly easier for individuals to tell fortunes. It became a common occurrence for people to gather around a fire and attempt to tell each other fortunes.  There are a few different theories as to how trick-or-treating became a common tradition. One of the more common theories has to do with individuals going around to collect food or money. According to some articles, it was used in the exchange of prayers for the dead on the coming “All Saints Day.” The colour choice of black and orange is also significant. The colour black, often a symbol of death, represents the end (the “death”) of summer. The colour orange is symbolic of the fall season and its colour themes.  Often around the time of Halloween, you may notice many decorations and an increase in references (in movies for example) of black cats. Back in the Middle Ages, black cats were often seen as a sign of the devil. This was not helped by later comments of witches always having a black cat as a companion. It was sometimes believed that the cats would assist their witch with magic potions and spells. There were even some stories that witches would turn themselves into black cats to avoid being seen! 

I hope everyone has an enjoyable Halloween! Please be sure to stay safe no matter what! Have a good spooky season!