Exploring the Origins of Halloween

Halloween, not to be confused with the 80's metal band Holloween, is an international holiday celebrated traditionally on October 31 - the evening prior to All Saint's Day (Nov. 1). In many countries around the globe Halloween is celebrated by dressing up in costumes, going to parties and for children trick or treating. More about the tradition of trick or treats and how it's evolved over the years.

Often during Halloween, many public places, such as restaurants, bowling alleys and roller rinks host costume contests and give away various prizes for best, worst, etc. There's usually music, food, drink, dancing, games and lots of socializing. It's great fun and much safer all around.

Many folks, choose to host their own Halloween parties. Especially parents with children who wish to forgo the trick or treating in favor of something safer. Lots of neighborhood kids and friends will be invited around to the host's house. Guests will dress up in their favorite costumes. Refreshments will be served. Games will be played. Everyone has a great time. At the end of the evening guests are usually sent home with a small bag of candy treats.

More Halloween Party Ideas and Suggestions

Haunted houses and scary hayrides have also become popular Halloween actitives in recent years. They can range from simple displays to elaborate hollywood-worthy spectacles. Spooky hayrides are often sanctioned by local park departments, pumpkin growers or some collaboration thereof. They are usually quite inexpensive and great fun on a cool October evening.

The carving of the pumpkin probably owes itself simply to the fact that pumpkins are seasonally grown and harvested during this time of the year. Creating the scary face and lighting it with a candle, creating a jack o lantern, closely mimics the idea of people dressing up in masks and costumes.

The origins of Halloween are ancient but still have much in common with how we celebrate it today. During the original pagan ritual called Samhain masks and costumes were worn to fool the evil and dead spirits into thinking that the people were also spirits. Thereby protecting them from harm.

At some point in history, when christianty had gained popularity, it's thought that the church, diaspproving of the pagan ritual, usurped the holiday. They created their own holiday on November 1 called All Saints' Day and named the celebration All Hallowmas. It then followed that the evening prior, Oct. 31, became known as All Hallows Eve. Thereby replacing the pagan holiday of Samhain.

It's thought that the origins of christmas have a similar history. Having both been originally pagan rituals that the ancient christian church sought to replace with their own celebrations. But that is a whole other story.

This would explain why traditional Halloween costumes are scary things like monsters, witches and ghouls. Of course, as the holiday has become more and more popular over the years, it has also become much more commerically oriented. There is a costume for everything. Popular tv and movie characters, especially super heroes now dominate the scene, thanks in large part to the marketting efforts of the entertainment industry and costume manufacturers.

Having gained extreme popularity in the United States, today, Halloween is widely celebrated in many countries around world. Canada, England and Ireland to name a few. In these different countries/cultures, there are different traditions used in the celebration. One thing, however remains constant all over the globe. No matter where you come from or how you choose to celebrate it, celebrating Halloween invariably includes dressing up in a costume and becoming someone else for the day/night.

More about how costumes reflect and effect our personalities.

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