Halloween Historical Background

By Andy Jaeger-McLean in Children on July 7th, 2008

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by Shelby Wright

Halloween celebration traditions are held every October 31st. Today the ones who enjoy Halloween the most are the children. Halloween is a popular time to get up in fancy dress and go from house to house trick or treating. Some people take the time to set up displays in their homes and front yards with tombs and ghosts in a Halloween theme.

Halloween is a traditional Celtic festival, and has survived through the ages most strongly in the Celtic communities in Ireland, Scotland and Wales. From there, with emigration, Halloween has spread around the world, most notably to America. In recent years, the spread of popular American culture has introduced a further expansion of interest in Halloween to fresh places, such as Asia and Western Europe.

The original Celtic celebrations were pagan festivities related to the changing seasons as winter approached. Traditionally it was a time when the living could communicate with the dead, and magic was abroad. The early Christian church, as with many pagan festivals, absorbed these celebrations into the Christian calendar. All Saints Day, also known as All Hallows Day, was set down for November 1st. All Hallows Evening, the night of October 31st, became known as Hallow E’en, later just Halloween, and the time for the traditional celebrations.

Halloween celebrations were a community event, and there was usually a bonfire and fun games. The apple harvest was in at that time, and games such as trying to eat an apple on a string or floating in a bucket of water with your hands behind your back, were customary. Children would go from door to door to gather fruit, nuts and other tidbits for the festivities, which was the origin of the “treating” visits of today. Mostly, particularly in Scotland, the children would sing or put on a short act in return for the treats they were given. These days the treats given are often candies and sweets, and occasionally money.

Early on, Halloween “tricks” were secretive and often clever pranks played on some adults by children. The mischievous spirits that were said to be abroad on Halloween were blamed. This activity was especially popular in Ireland. A long time ago, tricks and treating combined into an ultimatum: give a treat or become the victim of a trick. This undesirable habit led to such unpleasantness as tossing eggs at houses and soaping windows, and more serious vandalism. Nowadays such unruly behavior is not often seen.

Halloween parties are often held amidst decorations to a haunted house theme. Children’s eyes light up when Halloween menu items include the likes of tomato soup changed to vampire soup, spaghetti served up as cemetery worms, and witches fingers made of breadsticks tipped with sliced almonds. Halloween pumpkins are carved into jack-o-lanterns. Pumpkin dishes such as pumpkin pie are popular at Halloween.

For the last few years, the magic and wizards themes of the popular Harry Potter books have added fresh ideas to Halloween fancy dress and decorations for children’s Halloween parties.

Halloween dress up parties have also become regular events for adults as well lately. They are a good enough excuse to dress up and have fun. The trend today is for any outfit to be acceptable, not only the traditional witches, monsters, vampires and ghosts of Halloween. Costume design inspirations are now inspired from many places, such as popular movies and television series. Some costumes are just clever, such as the seasonal fall theme of a “leaf blower”, made with a leaf hanging from the brim of a cap where it can be blown by the wearer.

About the Author:

Parents living the family life at home are often called on to make the outfits and organize the celebrations of Halloween. Here is some Halloween history and practical Halloween ideas to help you make it a entertaining evening for the kids.