Halloween, a time of tricks and treats, is a favorite holiday for many Americans as well as other western countries such as Ireland, Canada, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Halloween originates from the ancient Celts. They lived about 2,000 years ago in the Ireland, United Kingdom and northern France. Halloween is derived from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the dark and cold winter. This festival also marked the beginning of the new year for the Celts. On the night of October 31st, the Celts believed that the boundaries between the world of the living and the dead became thin and ghosts of the dead could return to the living world. On this night were the dead came back, Druids (Celtic priests) would communicate with the spirits and predict the future. To celebrate Samhain the Druids build bonfires, and people would dress up in costumes appease spirits that had come back to life.
In 609 A.D, long after the Romans conquered the Celts, Pope Boniface IV established the Catholic feast All Martyrs Day. It was later expanded to saints. Celtic culture blended into Christian culture. In 1000 A.D. the church made November 2nd All Souls’ Day, which blended many Celtic customs with Christian customs.
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Around 1850, Irish immigrants poured into America and helped make Halloween more popular. Combining Irish traditions and English traditions, the early “trick-or-treat” began. At the turn of the century Halloween became more secularized and parties focused on festive games and foods instead of the old superstitions.
An easy mistake many people around the world make is thinking that Halloween is the same thing as Day of the Dead. This Mexican holiday celebrates past loved ones and relatives. Day of the Dead traditions include building alters and giving offerings to ancestors. During this day the gates of heaven open on midnight October 31st and deceased children are reunited with their families. On November 2nd deceased adult spirits come down and are reunited with their families as well.
Sources
http://www.mexicansugarskull.com/support/dodhistory.html
http://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween
