When costumed children mark the evening of October
31 by going door to door begging for sweets, they are participating in
rituals similar to those that have been practiced for centuries.
Halloween, now so much a part of American tradition, has both pagan and Christian roots.
The Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the
beginning of the new year, was traditionally celebrated on November 1,
when summer was over and the harvest gathered. In a time when gods and
spirits were very much a part of everyday life, the Celts believed that
on New Year's Eve the worlds of the living and the dead came together.
The spirits of those who had died during the previous year wandered the
earth making mischief and playing tricks on the living. In an effort to
avoid persecution by evil spirits, villagers took to the streets dressed
as supernatural beings themselves, in masks and frightening costumes.
In the 9th century, as part of an effort to shift
people from pagan to Christian worship, November 1 was fixed as All
Hallows or All Saints' Day. October 31 became All Hallows Eve, a name
that was later corrupted to Halloween. In about 1000 A.D., November 2
became All Souls' Day. The church also encouraged the substitution of
Christian practices for pagan traditions.
To discourage the pagan Celtic custom of leaving
food and wine on the doorstep for wandering spirits, the church promoted
the practice of "souling"—believed to be the precursor of modern
trick-or-treating. On the day set to honor dead souls, Christian beggars
wandered from village to village pleading for Soul Cakes, made from
square pieces of bread and currants. For each cake collected, the beggar
promised to say prayers for the giver's dead relatives. Thus, the more
cakes given, the more prayers said. These prayers were more than
tribute. It was believed that the souls of the dead remained in limbo
for a time after death and that prayer could speed their way to heaven.
Over the years, British children began to go "a-souling" in their neighborhoods,
asking for food, money, and even ale. In England, this tradition was eventually assimilated into the celebration of
Guy Fawkes Day (November 5). In Scotland and Ireland, however, the
Halloween custom of going door to door costumed as supernatural beings,
to be placated with hospitality, continued.
The tradition came to America with settlers from
the British Isles, especially with the massive influx of Irish
immigrants during the 1840s potato famine. The American festival of
Halloween commemorates both Celtic and early Christian heritage, and
celebrates the integration of diverse religious and cultural traditions
into a popular secular holiday.
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