Feb 03 2009
Halloween
Welcome to Halloween.org.uk
Your guide to all things to do with halloween. We provide you with the latest gifts, costume ideas, props, masks, games and fun all to do with this great day.
About Halloween
Halloween dates back 2,000 years to the time of the Celts of Ireland, UK and France and their ancient festival of Samhain, held on November 1st. New Year’s Day was celebrated on November 1st, marking the end of summer and
harvest time and the oncoming of winter, which was associated with death. Celtic belief was that on the eve of New Year on October 31st, there was a blurring of boundaries between the living and dead as veils were lifted between the present, past and future, and ghosts were believed to return to earth on this day. The Celts also believed that their priests, the Druids, were able to predict the future on this day. The day was marked by building huge fires onto which were sacrificed many crops and animals to the Celtic gods. It is believed that celebrations lasted three days. During this commemoration, Celts dress up in animal heads and costumes made from skins, and told fortunes to each other. Men dressed as women and women dressed as men. Tricks were played on people - gates were removed and hidden. Children knocked on doors and asked for food. Hence the origins of trick or treating were formed.
By 43AD, most Celtic territory was taken over by the Romans, whose traditions were now adopted. They celebrated Feralia towards the end of October to mark the passing of their dead and a day of commemoration for Pomona, goddess of fruit and trees, and this is thought to be the origin of the tradition of apple bobbing.
As Christianity spread across once Celtic lands, November 1st was declared to be All Saints Day, when saints and martyrs were honoured. The celebration was known as All Hallows or All Hallowmass from the Middle English to mean All Saints Day. November 2nd later became All Souls Day, with similarities to the Celtic Samhain, honouring the dead, and with bonfires and costumes to mark the occasion. After the arrival of Christianity, the end of October was
the time when crop harvests ended and animals slaughtered for subsistence through the winter. It was a time of great feasting, when families and their ancestors were invited to get together and tell ghost stories.
During the Middle Ages beggars began to knock on doors and beg for ’soul cakes’ on All Souls Day. This custom was soon adopted by children and families fearing that their guests and spirit ancestors may frown on them for lacking generosity, gave food to the children. The term ‘trick or treat’ was first used around 1939, although the custom did not, to a significant degree, arrive in the UK until around the 1970s, along with a more high profile and commercial element. Halloween has once more become a well recognised time of celebration, feasting and costume wearing in UK, US and Europe. Most people do not know of its Celtic roots, but it has changed little since its beginnings.