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Every October, people look forward to Halloween, along with all of the fun traditions and treats that come with it. October 31st gives people the opportunity to dress up in all different costumes and get together with friends to celebrate. However, most do not know the origin of the spooky holiday. How did Halloween come to be and why is it celebrated worldwide?
The Holiday of Samhain:
Halloween first originated from the holiday of Samhain: a Christian festival celebrated in Tlachtga, Athboy. The holiday was celebrated to transition from bright summer days to the darker part of the year. In Athboy, the season of winter was associated with “death.” The citizens of Tlachtga believe that on this night, the living and dead can interact.
Tall “barriers” between the two worlds disappear and Souls return to homes they once lived in on Earth.
Taking place on October 31st-November 1st, families gathered in their homes and conducted a fire festival, allowing the fires to burn throughout the night to ward off the spirits of the dead. Celebrants wore various costumes and joined with Priests at the end of the feast to light a fire and pray as a community. Individuals carried around torches, and those who did not participate in the night’s festivities were thought to receive punishment from the gods. As a result, ghosts, witches, and souls became associated with Halloween.
Irish Immigrants escaping the Potato famine brought many of these traditions to America. While we do not currently hold fire festivals during Halloween, traditions such as costume-wearing and gathering with others continue to this day. It was not until the late 1950s that trick-or-treating became a tradition, making Halloween the fun holiday we know it to be today.