Have you ever sat down and wondered, how did Halloween even become a thing? You probably haven’t, but there is so much to know! Halloween dates back to over 2,000 years ago and originally took place on November 1st at the ancient festival of Samahan, celebrating the Celtic New Year. This was a time when harvest ended and the cold winter rolled in, seemingly bringing death, and it was believed that during this time the dead would come back to earth. The celebration consisted of large bonfires and people dressing up in costumes, like animal skins and heads, to ward off ghosts and appeal to spirits.
During the middle ages, this time of the year began to consist of many competitive rituals and was largely attached to the idea of witchcraft and prophecy. Even relating back to the earliest known roots of Halloween, there was always a sense of superstition attached to its name. The celebration was much more intense before the 20th century, and while dramatics played a large role in the celebration, so did Christianity. In the 18th century, All Saints Day was marked on November 1st by the Catholic Church, dedicating a day to honor saints and spirits, ultimately making October 1st All Hallows Eve. Over time, this tradition evolved into what we know as Halloween, filled with elaborate costumes, pumpkin carving, and “trick-or-treating”.