The History of Halloween

Ah, Halloween—the time of year when ghosts, goblins, and your neighbours' poor costume choices emerge to play. But how did we get from a serious Celtic holiday honouring the dead to a night of knocking on doors and begging for candy while dressed as bizarre pop culture references? Let's take a walk (in our costumes, of course) down the haunting history lane.

So it all began with the Celts and their ancient holiday of Samhain, which loosely translates as "End of Summer" or "When the Weather Goes to Hell." This was a terrifying time when the line between the living and the dead became as thin as a Halloween store vampire cape. The Celts thought that during Samhain, the spirits of the dead, together with a few wandering witches and mischievous fairies, might mingle with the living. To discourage these spirits from disrupting their autumn feasts, they offered sacrifices of animals, fruits, and vegetables, much like a potluck for the afterlife. They also lit large bonfires, as is customary when attempting to connect with the deceased.

But then came Christianity, and Samhain was rebranded as All Hallow's Eve, a prelude to All Saints' Day, when the dead may still come over for a visit, albeit with a religious twist. People began leaving food, wine, and other offerings for the travelling ghosts. The dead were like, "Free snacks?" "Count us in." Eventually, this spooky night got a catchy new name—Hallowe’en—and the rest is haunted history.

So, What About the Costumes and Candy?

You may be wondering how we went from making offerings to spirits to dressing up and pestering our neighbours for sweets. The answer, my friend, is mumming, an ancient Celtic and early Christian custom. People used to dress up as eerie characters like ghosts, witches, and whatever the mediaeval equivalent of that crazy guy dressed as a gigantic hot dog is. They'd go door to door, doing tricks or short acts in exchange for food and drink. So, basically, the original trick-or-treaters were ancient freeloaders hunting for goodies.

Dressing up grew throughout the years into an excuse for people to pretend to be something spooky—or, currently, something meme-worthy—for a night, while "tricks" became more like "treats or else" scenarios. So, contemporary trick-or-treating was founded! Let's be honest: at this point, it's more of a sweet extortion ring than anything supernatural.

And What’s the Deal with Pumpkins?

Oh, the cherished jack-o'-lantern. You'd think this ritual would always include pumpkins, but nope! The original jack-o'-lanterns were carved from turnips. Yes, turnips. Nothing says "let's ward off evil spirits" like a scary vegetable that definitely belongs in a stew rather than on your porch. The Celts utilised these tiny root vegetables, carved with eerie faces, to scare away any unwanted ghosts who might swing by on All Hallow’s Eve.

But then, immigrants from Ireland and Scotland arrived in the United States, saw the gigantic pumpkins growing there, and thought, "Ah, much better." Pumpkins were larger, softer, and much easier to slice than the resistant turnips. Plus, let's be honest: a glowing pumpkin looks far more festive and Instagram-worthy than a slightly confused-looking turnip. So, the humble pumpkin became the official vegetable of Halloween, permanently associated with the frightening season.

From Spirits to Sweets

Ultimately, Halloween has evolved significantly from its Celtic origins. What began as a holiday to honour the dead has evolved into a night where we dress up as everything from ghosts to celebrities and indulge in sugar highs that’ll keep us hyper for days after. Whether you're lighting a bonfire to honour the deceased or simply wondering if you can devour the tenth fun-sized Snickers bar without regret, one thing is certain: Halloween is all about keeping the spirit (pun intended) alive.

So put on a costume, carve a pumpkin (or a turnip, if you're feeling nostalgic), and get ready to collect candy. After all, it is tradition!