The lights flicker on the porch, casting shadows on the giant spider perched upon the dense cotton threads of the large, intricate web draped across the doorway. The night has barely begun, and you hear a dark, mechanical laughter echoing from the dim.
Sound familiar? These specific decorations can only mean one thing: it’s Halloween, the annual holiday on October 31st that originates from the belief that spirits roamed the earth during this night.
The holiday is known and beloved by children and teens across the nation because of the playful traditions and enjoyable activities, such as dressing up in costume, carving pumpkins, and trick or treating.
What is not commonly known, however, is the story behind this spooky celebration.
History of Halloween
Halloween can be traced back nearly 2000 years to the Celtic festival of Samhain. During Samhain, it was thought that the line between the worlds of the living and the dead would blur so demons and spirits could cross over and roam the Earth during the holiday.
In the 8th century, November 1st was proclaimed as All Saints Day, with the night before — traditionally Samhain — deemed All Hallows Eve. All Hallows Eve still retained some of Samhain’s traditions (including costumes, worn to ward off the demons) which eventually became the Halloween traditions we know and love today.
The tradition of carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns originated in Ireland, where turnips were carved into demonic faces to frighten away wandering spirits, similar to the use of costumes in Samhain. Irish immigrants carried those practices to the U.S. and used the native pumpkin plants instead of turnips.
The modern U.S. traditions of masquerading and giving out candy gained popularity in the 1920s to 1930s, and established a lasting impact in our current Halloween activities.
Holidays Honoring the Dead in Other Cultures
The spirits of the deceased play a role in many other cultural holidays as well, such as Día de los Muertos and the Ghost Festival.
Día de los Muertos originates from the ancient Aztec custom of celebrating ancestors, along with All Souls’ Day (a medieval Spanish version of Día de los Muertos) from Spanish influence in Latin America. It is similar to a family reunion, paying respect to those who have passed away and celebrating their lives. Sugar skulls symbolize how the memories and the legacy of those who have passed can continue in their descendants.
In East and Southeast Asian countries, the Ghost Festival is celebrated. It is a day for people to offer sacrifice to their ancestors. During this time, the deceased are believed to visit the living. There are many traditions that honor the dead, such as elaborate meals cooked in preparation for the spirits’ arrival and preparing fine goods for the visiting ancestors.
Allantide, the Cornish equivalent of Halloween, is also celebrated on October 31st. It shares similarities with Samhain and it was thought that the spiritual and physical worlds were more connected with each other during the night of Allantide, and many sought out the wisdom of fortune tellers. Apples, which play a role in popular Halloween traditions, were also thought to be good luck during the Cornish holiday.
Halloween in Middleton
You can find MHS students trick or treating, dressing up in costumes, and carrying on many of Halloween’s traditions, like jack-o’-lanterns and other decorations. The collective efforts to bring this holiday to life provide a diverse connection throughout the Middleton communities.
During the night of Oct. 31, these neighborhoods are transformed as the decorations that echo historical traditions come to life, and the worlds between the living and the dead are connected once again.
