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The Real Story Behind Halloween - Kiwi Report

The Real Story Behind Halloween


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No, not the 1978 Slasher movie with Jamie Lee Curtis (I think that tale tells itself *shivers*), but the autumnal celebration observed by countries all over the world. Hallowe’en, All Halloween, All Hallow’s Eve or All Saints’ Eve, whatever you call it, the 31st of October is an exciting day of dress-up and trick or treating. Everyone loves Halloween, right? But does anyone think about, or indeed know, the real story behind this candy-filled holiday? Let’s uncover the facts behind the fear.
JackÓ-Lanterns

Beginnings

It may seem hard to believe, but this commercialized festival has historical origins and religious roots. It is thought by many that the customs of today are a result of folk beliefs of Europe some 2,000 years back; Celts of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany marked the end of the harvest season, and start of winter, with celebration and superstition. The thought is widely held that a lot of what we know now of Halloween developed from the Gaelic festival ‘Samhain’, which means “summer’s end”. It represented the move from the warm, lighter months to the cold, darker half of the year, a time where death was more prevalent. The start of the new year for these communities was November the 1st, and they believed that the partition dividing the worlds of the living and the dead became less distinct on the eve (31st October), allowing ghosts of those dearly departed to return to the earth. Roaming spirits needed to be appeased during Samhain to ensure families and livestock were able to survive the cold months of winter. Sacred bonfires were lit, with the flames and smoke of these deemed to have protective powers, preventing the darkness of winter. The Celts also wore costumes, typically animal carcasses, during this time (nice) as disguising oneself was another way of being kept safe.
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Evolution

Through time these rituals developed; people marked themselves in a way to represent dark spirits and demanded treats from householders, in exchange they would give them good fortune. If the house refused, misfortune would befall those who lived there, mostly due to mischievous youths. Ahhh, trick or treat, it’s all making sense now. Fire-lit lanterns were carried by those traveling house-to-house, to shield themselves from the actual evil spirits and they eventually became known as jack-o-lanterns. That’s where the carved pumpkins come in then. In the 8th Century, the day of November 1st was declared ‘All Saint’s Day’ by the Pope to honor saints and martyrs. The holy celebration began to blend with and incorporate some of the rituals involved in the Celtic holiday as the religion spread throughout Celtic lands. Candles would be lit for the dead, and the bonfire tradition remained as a way of keeping the devil away. It is argued that this was a way for the church to replace the pagan Samhain. The term ‘hallow’ actually means holy person, and so the eve of the day became known as All Hallows’ Eve, and eventually Halloween.
More historic story than horror story, it’s an interesting insight into the past and how the strange acts of today have evolved from meaningful religious traditions. So there you have it, the day where the kids are passed out in a candy induced coma, teenagers are dressed as witches, and adults are cleaning eggs off their houses, all stems from a two thousand year old belief of spirits entering our world on the eve of winter. Well you can’t blame them really, everyone is scared of the dark, and who hasn’t heard a bump in the night?
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