Every year on October 31, many people of all ages and across nations dress up for Halloween. The holiday has ancient roots and has evolved much to form the modern-day version. So, where did it start? Around 0 CE, in western and central Europe, the Celts, a polytheistic pagan culture, celebrated Samhain. Samhain was a day when the Celts believed the barrier between the dead and the living blurred, and souls walked among them. These ghosts were unlike the peaceful spirits in other cultures; they were vengeful and destroyed property if not confused by costumes. This holiday was the eve of the Celtic New Year, which was on November 1.

Eventually, the Celtic culture dwindled from central Europe, as they were targeted to be wiped out by the Romans, to be concentrated in Ireland and the surrounding regions. When the British Isles were invaded by the Romans, the Celts were quickly enveloped in the larger Roman cultural sphere. When the British Isles were conquered, the Romans still worshipped Greek Gods, and the Romans observed a holiday named Feralia in February. Feralia was the end of a nine-day celebration of the dead, called Parentalia. Samhain was merged, creating a smaller, second Feralia in October. October Feralia changed from just warding off to warding off and celebrating their dead. The Romans put great importance on remembering their ancestors, and it was warned that unremembered souls would roam and cause disruption. 

Later on in time, the Roman Empire adopted Christianity. Around 600 CE, the Pope renamed this smaller Feralia ‘All Martyrs’ Day’ to celebrate the life of those martyred for Christ. By then, the Romans no longer had control over Britain, and the Celts kept celebrating Feralia. The Celtic religions slowly died out as their followers adopted Christianity, without the Romans. In approximately 840 CE, a different Pope moved the holiday from October 31 to November 1, and reappropriated the day, formerly in May, to be for all Christian Saints. It is suspected this was done to win over Celtic converts.

After this, the Celtic culture blended once again, and around 1000 CE, November 2 was set as All Souls’ Day to honor their dead. The day before these two holidays was later known as All Hallows’ Eve, after the name of All Saints’ Day in Middle English, Alholowmesse. In Christianity, All Hallows’ Eve is for fasting in preparation for a large feast on the next day. They also place candles on the graves of their dead. 

The tradition of trick or treating was rooted in a tradition in 1500 CE England, where children dressed up in frightening costumes to get biscuits from grown-ups as well as to ward off evil spirits. Some poor adults would beg, or guise, for biscuits as well, and instead of promising to ward off evil spirits, they would promise to pray for richer people’s ancestors.

Halloween, in America, is celebrated by dressing up, with younger people knocking on doors for free candy, and older people partying or giving candy. Traditionally, costumes are scary, but more recently, costumes have become a show of personality or the interests of the wearer. Halloween has become a large part of American culture, with month-long celebrations of the holiday cementing October as the month of all things spooky.

Jillian Parad, Staff Writer 

Jillian Parad is a sophomore at Ledyard High School. She likes music, cats, and video games.