The roots of Halloween go back more than 2,000 years ago in the region encompassing Northern France, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, where an ancient Celtic festival named Samhain (pronounced sow-in) was celebrated Nov. 1, their new year.
On that night, they celebrated Samhain when they believed ghosts of the dead returned. Huge bonfires were lit. People gathered wearing costumes, usually of animal heads and skins, all in an effort to protect them during the coming cold, dark winter.
To keep ghosts away from their homes on Halloween, people would place bowls of food on their doorsteps to appease ghosts and prevent them from entering their homes. In time, pastry ‘soul cakes’ would be left on doorsteps to deter the roaming spirits. Eventually, children would go ‘a-souling,’ visiting neighborhood houses and be given ale, food, and money.
The Irish also brought the idea of jack-o’-lanterns. The name comes from an Irish folktale about a man named Stingy Jack who tricked the devil. The devil punished Stingy Jack by sending him eternally off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put it into a carved turnip and has been roaming the Earth ever since.
During the first half of the 20th century, trick-or-treating evolved, a way for an entire community to share Halloween. The idea was that families could prevent tricks played on them by providing neighborhood children with small treats, hence the phrase – trick-or-treat. By the 1950s, Halloween had evolved into a celebration focused mainly on the young as the baby boom surged.Halloween has always been filled with superstition, mystery, and magic. Ghosts are often portrayed to be feared.
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