The History of Halloween or Samhain
The following is based on article reprinted from the Library of Congress - Folklore Center Author Jack Santino - September 1982
Halloween had its beginnings in a pre-Christian Celtic festival of the dead. The Celtic peoples, who were once found all over Europe, divided the year by four major holidays. According to their calendar, the year began on November 1st. The date marked the beginning of winter. It was a time when cattle and sheep had to be moved to closer pastures for the winter months. Crops were harvested and stored. The festival observed at this time was called Samhain (pronounced Sah-ween). It was the biggest holiday of the Celtic year. The Celts believed that at the time of Samhain, the ghosts of the dead were able to interact with the living, because this was the time that the people who had died during the year traveled entered the otherworld. To help them in their journey, the Celts sacrificed animals, fruits, and vegetables. They also lit bonfires in honor of the dead, and to keep them away from the living. Since some of the dead were not friendly, this time was rather frightening to the living. When Christian missionaries attempted to change the religious practices of the Celtic people, they had to compete with the Druids who were priests, doctors, and teachers of the Celts. Since they were competitors, Christian missionaries and monks sometimes called the Druids evil devil worshippers in their attempts to wipe out the "pagan" practices and holidays. In 601 A.D. Pope Gregory told the missionaries that rather than trying to stop native peoples' customs, they should try to blend them with Christian practices. This idea of Pope Gregory’s was an excellent way to spread Christianity, so it became a basic approach used in Catholic missionary work. Church holy days were purposely set to coincide with native holy days. Samhain was decidedly pagan, however. While missionaries identified their holy days with those observed by the Celts, they had difficulty blending the ritual of Samhain, so they called it evil devil worship. The Druids then were considered evil and the followers of the old religion went into hiding and were branded as witches. The Celtic idea of the underworld inevitably became identified with the Christian Hell. Eventually, the Christian feast of All Saints was assigned to November 1st. The day honored every Christian saint, especially those that did not otherwise have a special day devoted to them. This feast day was meant to substitute for Samhain, to draw the devotion of the Celtic peoples, and, finally, to replace it forever. All Saints Day, otherwise known as All Hallows (hallowed means holy), continued the ancient Celtic traditions. The evening prior to the day continued to be celebrated. It was now called All Hallows Eve. It remained the time of the wandering dead, but now the supernatural beings were thought to be evil. The folk continued to set out gifts of food and drink. Subsequently, All Hallows Eve became Hallow Evening, which became Hallowe'en – a Celtic, pre-Christian New Year's Day but in a new shape. In old England cakes were made
for the wandering souls, and people went "a' soulin'" for these "soul cakes." It is hard to prove but it appears that most Halloween traditions can be traced to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.. The wearing of costumes, for instance, and roaming from door to door demanding treats can be traced to the Celtic period and the first few centuries of the Christian era, when it was thought that the souls of the dead were out and around. Offerings of food and drink were left out to keep them happy. As the centuries wore on, people began dressing like the dead and other scary creatures, performing antics in exchange for food and drink. This practice is called mumming, from which the practice of trick-or-treating evolved. To this day, witches, ghosts, and skeleton figures of the dead are among the favorite disguises. Halloween also retains some features that date back to the original harvest holiday of Samhain, such as the customs of bobbing for apples and carving vegetables, as well as the fruits, nuts, and cider associated with the day. Halloween in the U.S. has become a festival for children whom, dressed in costumes, go from house to house for candy and other treats. The children say “Trick or Treat” as a greeting at each house. It means that they may do some trick or terrible thing if the people in the house do not give them some treats. The symbol of children appearing at houses dressed in scary costumes probably comes from the Celtic ideas that the dead would visit their homes on Halloween. Perhaps, the children dressed as ghosts could be considered the dead relatives.
1. Where did the Celts live and who were the Druids? 2. When was Samhain, and what did the Celts believe happened at that time of the year? 3. What are three things the Celts did during Samhain? 4. When did Christian missionaries start trying to change the religious ideas of the Celts and what did the early Christian missionaries call the Druids? 5. What did Pope Gregory tell missionaries to do? 6. What happened to many of the Druids and believers of the Celtic religion after Christianity became stronger? 7. What Christian holiday replaced Samhain? When was it held, and what happened on that day? 8. What continued to happen on the evening before November first? 9. What are three customs that may have come from the Celtic ideas of Samhain? 10. What are three things that happen during Halloween in the U.S.?
GROUP ONE When Christian missionaries attempted to change the religious practices of the Celtic people, they had to compete with the Druids who were priests, doctors, and teachers of the Celts. Since they were competitors, Christian missionaries and monks sometimes called the Druids evil devil worshippers in their attempts to wipe out the "pagan" practices and holidays. In 601 A.D. Pope Gregory told the missionaries that rather than trying to stop native peoples' customs, they should try to blend them with Christian practices. This idea of Pope Gregory’s was an excellent way to spread Christianity, so it became a basic approach used in Catholic missionary work. Church holy days were purposely set to coincide with native holy days. GROUP TWO It is hard to prove but it appears that most Halloween traditions can be traced to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.. The wearing of costumes, for instance, and roaming from door to door demanding treats can be traced to the Celtic period and the first few centuries of the Christian era, when it was thought that the souls of the dead were out and around. Offerings of food and drink were left out to keep them happy. As the centuries wore on, people began dressing like the dead and other scary creatures, performing antics in exchange for food and drink. This practice is called mumming, from which the practice of trick-or-treating evolved. To this day, witches, ghosts, and skeleton figures of the dead are among the favorite disguises. Halloween also retains some features that date back to the original harvest holiday of Samhain, such as the customs of bobbing for apples and carving vegetables, as well as the fruits, nuts, and cider associated with the day. GROUP THREE Halloween had its beginnings in a pre-Christian Celtic festival of the dead. The Celtic peoples, who were once found all over Europe, divided the year by four major holidays. According to their calendar, the year began on November 1st. The date marked the beginning of winter. It was a time when cattle and sheep had to be moved to closer pastures for the winter months. Crops were harvested and stored. GROUP FOUR Samhain was decidedly pagan, however. While missionaries identified their holy days with those observed by the Celts, they had difficulty blending the ritual of Samhain, so they called it evil devil worship. The Druids then were considered evil and the followers of the old religion went into hiding and were branded as witches. The Celtic idea of the underworld inevitably became identified with the Christian Hell. Eventually, the Christian feast of All Saints was assigned to November 1st. The day honored every Christian saint, especially those that did not otherwise have a special day devoted to them. This feast day was meant to substitute for Samhain, to draw the devotion of the Celtic peoples, and, finally, to replace it forever.
GROUP FIVE Halloween in the U.S. has become a festival for children whom, dressed in costumes, go from house to house for candy and other treats. The children say “Trick or Treat” as a greeting at each house. It means that they may do some trick or terrible thing if the people in the house do not give them some treats. The symbol of children appearing at houses dressed in scary costumes probably comes from the Celtic ideas that the dead would visit their homes on Halloween. Perhaps, the children dressed as ghosts could be considered the dead relatives. GROUP SIX All Saints Day, otherwise known as All Hallows (hallowed means holy), continued the ancient Celtic traditions. The evening prior to the day continued to be celebrated. It was now called All Hallows Eve. It remained the time of the wandering dead, but now the supernatural beings were thought to be evil. The folk continued to set out gifts of food and drink. Subsequently, All Hallows Eve became Hallow Evening, which became Hallowe'en – a Celtic, pre-Christian New Year's Day but in a new shape. In old England cakes were made for the wandering souls, and people went "a' soulin'" for these "soul cakes." GROUP SEVEN The festival observed at this time was called Samhain (pronounced Sahween). It was the biggest holida y of the Celtic year. The Celts believed that at the time of Samhain, the ghosts of the dead were able to interact with the living, because this was the time that the people who had died during the year traveled entered the otherworld. To help them in their journe y, the Celts sacrificed animals, fruits, and vegetables. The y also lit bonfires in honor of the dead, and to keep them away from the living. Since some of the dead were not friendl y, this time was rather fri ghtening to the livin g.
(GROUP ONE) When Christian missionaries a___________ to change the religious practices of the Celtic p_________, they had to compete with the Druids who were priests, d________, and teachers of the Celts. Since they were com________, Christian missionaries and monks sometimes called the Druids evil d______ worshippers in their attempts to wipe out the "p_____" practices and holidays. In 601 A.D. P____ Gregory told the missionaries that rather than trying to stop n_______ peoples' customs, they should try to b______ them with Christian practices. This idea of Pope Gregory’s was an e_________ way to spread Christianity, so it became a basic a_________ used in Catholic missionary work. Church holy days were purposely set to c_________ with native holy days. (GROUP TWO) It is hard to p______ but it appears that most Halloween t_________ can be traced to the ancient Celtic f_________ of Samhain.. The wearing of costumes, for instance, and roaming from door to door demanding t_______ can be traced to the Celtic period and the f______ few centuries of the Christian era, when it was thought that the s_____ of the dead were out and around. Offerings of f_____ and drink were left out to keep them h______. As the centuries wore on, people began dressing like the d_____ and other scary creatures, performing antics in exchange for food and drink. This p________ is called mumming, from which the practice of trick-or-treating e________. To this day, witches, g______, and skeleton figures of the dead are among the favorite disguises. Halloween also retains some f________ that date back to the original harvest holiday of Samhain, such as the customs of bobbing for apples and c________ vegetables, as well as the fruits, nuts, and cider associated with the day. (GROUP THREE) Halloween had its b___________ in a pre-Christian Celtic festival of the d_____. The Celtic peoples, who were once f_______ all over Europe, divided the y_____ by four major h________. According to their c_________, the year began on November 1st. The date m______ the beginning of w______. It was a time when c______ and sheep had to be moved to closer p________ for the winter months. C_____ were harvested and s_______.
(GROUP FOUR) Samhain was decidedly p______, however. While missionaries identified their h_____ days with those observed by the Celts, they had difficulty b________ the ritual of Samhain, so they called it evil d______ worship. The Druids then were considered evil and the f_________ of the old religion went into hiding and were branded as w_______. The Celtic idea of the u______world inevitably became identified with the Christian H_____. Eventually, the Christian feast of All Saints was assigned to N________ 1st. The day honored every Christian s_____, especially those that did not otherwise have a s_______ day devoted to them. This feast day was m_______ to substitute for Samhain, to draw the d________ of the Celtic peoples, and, finally, to replace it f________.
(GROUP FIVE) Halloween in the U.S. has b_______ a festival for children whom, dressed in c_________, go from house to house for candy and other t______. The children say “Trick or Treat” as a g_______ at each house. It means that they may do some t_____ or terrible thing if the p______ in the house do not give them some treats. The s_______ of children appearing at houses dressed in s______ costumes probably comes from the Celtic i______ that the dead would v______ their homes on Halloween. Perhaps, the children d_______ as ghosts could be considered the dead r________. (GROUP SIX) All Saints Day, o_________ known as All Hallows (hallowed means h____), continued the ancient Celtic t________. The evening prior to the day continued to be c________. It was now called All Hallows E___. It remained the time of the w________ dead, but now the supernatural b______ were thought to be evil. The folk continued to set out g____ of food and drink. Subsequently, All Hallows Eve b________ Hallow Evening, which became Hallowe'en – a C______, pre-Christian New Year's Day but in a new s______. In old England c_____ were made for the wandering souls, and p______ went "a' soulin'" for these "soul cakes."
(GROUP SEVEN) The festival o_________ at this time was called Samhain (pronounced Sah-ween). It was the biggest h________ of the Celtic year. The Celts b_________ that at the time of Samhain, the g_______ of the dead were able to interact with the l_______, because this was the t_____ that the people who had died d______ the year traveled entered the other_______. To help them in their journey, the Celts sac______ animals, fruits, and vegetables. They also lit b_______ in honor of the dead, and to k_____ them away from the living. Since some of the d_____ were not friendly, this time was rather f___________ to the living.