Have you ever wondered why we celebrate certain holidays? When did they start and why? Halloween is one of those holidays that I have always thought about. So I decided to do a little research! Read on to find out more about the history of Halloween!
Believe it or not, Halloween actually has roots as a religious holiday. The holiday began as the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. On this night, they believed that ghosts could return to the earth. So people tried to keep the ghosts away by having bonfires and wearing costumes. Later, Pope Gregory III made November 1 All Saints' Day. It became a holiday to honor saints and martyrs. The night before was All Hallows? Eve, which later became Halloween! As the centuries passed, Halloween became the fall holiday we know it as today, where children dress in costumes and go trick-or-treating.
Trick-or-treating has roots in the All Souls' Day parades in England. Poor people would beg for "soul cakes" and became known as "going a-souling". Costumes were worn as a way to avoid being recognized by the ghosts that had returned to the earth.
Many people believe in the power and evil of the spirits. But I tend to believe in the good in people! So to help keep myself from becoming scared, I always think of things that make me happy and help me feel safe. Halloween doesn't have to be a scary holiday (although some people really enjoy that feeling). But for me it is more about having fun, getting candy, and enjoying my family! PS...my boys are going to be dinosaurs!!
I hope you have a safe and happy halloween.
Editor's Note: Source: http://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween
