Origins of Halloween explained

While Halloween in America is now a secular holiday, its origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. Celtics who lived over 2,000 years ago in the areas now known today as Ireland, United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated the new year on Nov.1, marking the end of summer and the beginning of harvest and winter. The evening before the new year was known as Samhain. Celts believed that on that night, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. It was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to Earth.           

In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated Nov. 1 as a time to honor all saints. Over time, All Saints Day incorporated the same tradition as Samhain, eventually changing Oct. 31 to All Hallows Eve. Halloween became a contraction of All Hallows Eve, Hallowe’en.          

Because of the prominent Protestant beliefs in colonial America in the 17th century, Halloween was limited, being celebrated more in the southern colonies than the northern colonies. Colonial Halloween festivities featured the telling of ghost stories, mischief-making, and play parties, which were public events held to celebrate the harvest. Neighbors would share stories of the dead, and tell each other’s fortunes, along with dancing and singing. By the middle of the 19th century, autumn festivities were common, but Halloween was not yet celebrated throughout America.

During the second half of the 19th century, Irish immigrants flooded the United States which spread the celebration of Halloween throughout the country bringing with them the traditions of Samhain. Immigrants from other countries also brought their Hallowe’en traditions which have evolved into the traditions we know and celebrate today.

Dressing up in costumes dates back to the festival of Samhain. Halloween costumes, also known as "guising" in Scotland, in the 19th century, were traditionally used to frighten supernatural, folklore beings and souls of the dead believed to be roaming the earth on All Hallows Eve. The first recorded costuming at Halloween in North America was in 1911. A newspaper in Ontario reported children running around neighborhoods dressed up and causing mischief. Costumes were often designed to be monsters such as vampires, ghosts, zombies, skeletons, witches, goblins, and devils. In more recent years, costumes have depicted superheroes, athletes, presidents, celebrities, and characters from film, television, and literature. Additionally, costumes have evolved from being a childish activity to becoming popular for adults to also wear costumes.  

Trick or treating has been a popular tradition for nearly a century. Since the 1920s, children would dress in costumes, going door to door to beg for candy. Going door to door to ask for food dates back to the ninth century when Christianity began spreading through Celtic lands. Poor people would dress up and go to the homes of wealthier people to receive sweet cakes in exchange for praying for their souls. This practice was known as "souling". During the depression, making mischief on Oct.31 became violent along with vandalism and physical assault. To combat this, communities started organizing door-to-door trick or treating, until the outbreak of World War II when sugar rations made it harder to get the sugary treats. Once the war concluded, trick-or-treating became the tradition for millions of children nationwide. Today, Americans spend over $2.8 billion on candy.

Halloween is widely celebrated throughout the month of October in Morgan Valley, with several pumpkin patches and a haunted maze. The highlight of Halloween for most residents is the business Trick-or-Treat which some have dubbed Trick-or-Treat Street.  This is a fun community event for children, teenagers, and adults. For nearly two decades, the streets of Morgan City have been flooded with families dressed in costumes, going from business to business collecting treats, and playing games along the way. Food trucks will also be available. All this happening from 4:00-6:00.

Regardless of how families plan to celebrate Halloween, be cautious and courteous, especially while driving. Drive slowly and be aware of trick-or-treaters throughout the valley, whether in neighborhoods or rural side streets. Happy Halloween! λ