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The
word "Halloween" originates
from All Saints day, All Hallows Eve and Hallow Even. The celebration
of Halloween was originally the New Years Eve of the Celts, the eve
of Samhain. It
was believed that the Dead or disembodied spirits of those who had
died would would stalk the earth in search of fresh victims to possess.
Villagers would take desperate means to avoid being possessed by the
evil spirits stalking the earth on that dark night of OCT 31. They
would put out the fires in their homes to make them cold and unwelcome
to spirits in search of a soul to posses. They would also dress all
sorts of scary attire to fool the stalking entities! They would wander
the village passing out food and making as much noise as possible to
scare away the spooks.
It was thought that after you died, your soul would be stuck in purgatory. To send souls to heaven, people used to go "SOULING" On OCTOBER 31. They would go around all the villages asking for "soul cakes." The relatives of the dead would pass on the "treats" to ensure the promise of prayers for their deceased loved ones and enable their way to heaven. The more "treats" given the more prayers would be offered. This was one practice that trick or treating was believed to come from. It was also known as "Mischief Night."
Kevin Danaher, in his book The Year in Ireland, discusses traditional Irish celebrations of Trick-or-Treating:
A familiar sight in Dublin city on and about October 31 is that of small groups of children, arrayed in grotesque garments and with faces masked or painted, accosting the passers-by or knocking on house doors with the request: “Help the Hallow E'en party! Any apples or nuts?” in the expectation of being given small presents; this, incidentally, is all the more remarkable as it is the only folk custom of the kind which has survived in the metropolis.
A couple of generations ago, in parts of Dublin and in other areas of Ireland, the groups would have consisted of young men and grown boys, who often travelled considerable distances in their quest, with consequently greater reward. The proceeds were usually expended on a “Hallow E'en party,” with music, dancing, feasting and so on, at some chosen house, and not merely consumed on the spot as with the children nowadays…
BATS: The scary fluttering bat was thought to be associated with vampires who were thought to shapeshift into the nocturnal blood drinking bat! BLACK CAT: During the mass hysteria of the "Burning Times" witches were said to use the midnight color black cat as a "familiar." BONFIRES: During the Celtic New Year the ancient villagers would build a big fire and celebrate the coming year and the passing of winter. JACK-O'-LANTERN: An American twist on ancient Celtic tradition of carrying hollowed out vegetables as candle holders and lanterns to ward off evil. |
