Today is Halloween. It was my favorite occasion as a child and my mom used to say that before summer even began, I already started talking about what I wanted to be for Halloween. Having only three nearby homes to trick or treat at, made the occasion more about dressing up and masquerading as someone else for a time then about gathering candy. Aside from the children dressing in costume and parading around their neighborhoods begging candy, the day is also the eve of All Saints Day. Steeped in history and superstition, where did all this hocus pocus come from? I Googled it and came up with many interesting explanations.
I learned that Halloween originated in the British Isles and Ireland among the Celtic tribes, it was called Samhain. This was celebrated the day before the arrival of winter and their new year on Nov. 1. On Oct. 31 they observed the festival of the Lord of the Dead. At that time, the spirits where allowed to return to their previous homes. Single candles were lit in each window to help guide the spirits home. To frighten the ghouls and ghosts away, people would don costumes and mask. Turnips were hollowed and carved into faces of spirits of protection. They would light bonfires, originally called bone-fires, where they tossed bones from their feast to insure plentiful healthy livestock in the New Year. Hearth fires were lit from the bonfire and the ashes spread on the harvested fields to protect the land.
Apples, black cats and jack-o-lanterns all were symbols of Samhain. When dunking for apples, the first bite into the apple was said to mean good luck. The first person to bite into the dunked apple would be the first to marry in the new year. Black cats were said to be familiars, or witches in disguise. The carved pumpkin (instead of the turnip) became a symbol of American Halloween in 1866. Apples, gourds, nuts, mulled wine and turnips along with beef, pork and poultry were the foods eaten to celebrate the occasion. Pranks and tricks were played on humans by the wee folk- (small human like entities-think leprechauns or fairies.) Much commotion ensued on this night!
The occasion was later Christianized, so to speak, and the night became All Hallows’ Eve or Halloween. The night was a preparation for the following day, All Saints’ Day.
All Saints’ Day began in the 4th century, and by the 9th century, it was decidedly celebrated on Nov. 1. All Saints’ Day symbolized the commemoration of Christian martyrs. It evolved from there to being a time of giving thanks to God for all Christians that had passed on to the next life. Many of the churches still celebrate All Saints’ Day by taking a few moments, during the church service, on the nearest Sunday to Nov. 1, or the next, to remember members of their congregation that have passed away.
The third day became the feast of All Souls’. It was established in the 1900s to purify the souls of the dead through a supernatural-like prayer. Most churches don’t accept this as an occasion to commemorate.
Some accuse the church of moving their hallowed day to Nov. 1 to coincide with the pagan day of Samhain to accommodate the practice and inspire them to accept Christianity without giving up their custom. Samhain is considered the Witches New Year.
So there you have it. It’s a controversial good versus evil occasion. Is Halloween for saints or sinners? Witch-ever, children just enjoy dressing up and being someone else for a time and gathering treats. I for one have eaten far too many treats already.
Deb Drinkwalter is a Lockport resident. Her column appears every Sunday. Contact her at d.drinkwalter@yahoo.com.
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DRINKWALTER: Halloween for saints or sinners?
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