Halloween

Halloween by ric gustafson


The celebration of Halloween started with a three day Celtic New Year celebration called Samhain. Samhain meant Lord of the Dead. Halloween comes from the term All Hallows Eve. All Saints Day is a Catholic celebration held on November 1. Halloween boasts a pagan and Christian history. It has always been part of the harvest season and is related to other festivals of the dead.
In 1346, the Black Death rampaged through much of Europe. By 1350, it had it had killed nearly sixty percent of Europe's population. Images of death and the Grim Reaper began to be popular. In 1480, witch hunts began and fascination with Satan increased. Halloween's most famous icon Satan has taken many forms over the centuries. He has been portrayed as the Devil in a red costume with horns and a tail.
By the sixteenth century, Halloween was celebrated separately from All Saints Day and All Souls Day. After 1869, celebration of Halloween flourished in America. Immigrants to the US began to bring Halloween rituals here. Bonfires, scarecrows and the use of pumpkins as jack o lanterns. In 1820, Washington Irving wrote a story called ' The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' in which the carved pumpkin got very popular.
Trick or treating was first recorded in the 1870's when costumed children were going house to house and begging food. In 1927 in Canada a newspaper article described how children began using the phrase trick or treat. After World War II, trick or treating became popular. Because of retailing, the wearing of costumes and having candy became very popular. By the 1980's, Halloween was not only popular with children but adults also.
Now in 2013, a simple Celt celebration has become a world wide annual event.


research help: ' Trick or Treat, a history of Halloween' by Lisa Morton


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric