A companion piece to Waxing Historic...Halloween, myth vs. fact

Daniel L. Bamberg

reporter

Unfortunately the newspaper business relies on advertisement to support its space.  For this reason sometimes stories are shortened.  In this week's edition (10/28) there is a front page piece entitled "Waxing Historic...Halloween, myth vs. fact."  This is a follow up to our July 4th piece "Waxing Historic...July 2nd the real 4th of July?"  The comments received from that piece allowed us to do this again for the controversial and often misrepresented holiday known as Halloween.  Some of the history of Halloween was not included to preserve space.  For that purpose we've decided to do a companion piece on the blog.  We hope you enjoy.

The history of Halloween is often misrepresented.  Even historians have contradictory ideas of its past.  There are certain portions of the day's past which are in conflict with one another.   The simple facts are, Halloween is simply a secularized version of three holidays; Samhain, The Day of the Dead, and All Saint's Day.

Samhain is a Celtic holiday which means "Summer's End."  Going back to druid beliefs summer represents the season of life.  Autumn, on the other hand represents the season of the dying.  Celtics, Druids, pagans, Gaelic cultures, Spanish, Portuguese and early Christians celebrated versions of the same idea.  The festive time was used in order to celebrate the harvest season, and also it was believed that the dead traveled from the world of the living to the world of the dead during this time.  Samhain was celebrated traditionally on November 1st.  

The Day of the Dead (El Dia de los Muertos) is celebrated by Spanish and Portuguese cultures.  The Day of the Dead is also known as "All Soul's Day" which is often the improper label some use when discussing the Catholic festival "All Saint's Day".  In Hispanic cultures it is believed the Day of the Dead was a time when the spirits of the deceased could visit the living.  One of the conflicts with both Samhain and Day of the Dead lies in the intentions of the spirits during this time.  Some believe the dead come to visit, while others believe the recently deceased part from one place to the next.  In other words in some cultures there is only one passage for the spirit of the dead.  In others (the more prominent of cultures) it is believed that all of the dead make this excursion during this time.  El Dia de los Muertos is celebrated on November 2nd.  

All Saint's Day was yet another spin on the idea of trapped, wandering, or departed spirits.  In this Catholic celebration early Christians believed that this day was for the faithfully departed who had not yet reached heaven.  Though many historians simply believe that All Saint's Day was simply a way for Catholicism to incorporate pagan traditions with the new faith "Christianity."  Many of those historians believe this due to the intertwining of other pagan traditions with Christianity.  Easter and Christmas are both recognized during the same time as many ancient celebrations.  Many even further suggest the demonization of Halloween was a reaction from Western Christians who could not seem to shake the pagan traditions of this time of year.  All Saint's Day was celebrated on the Eve of November 1st.  This is how Halloween became October 31st in modern time.

When America became a cultural melting pot the Irish brought the traditions of Samhain, the Spanish already had incorporated the traditions of Day of the Dead in their original land, and the European culture brought in the traditions of All Saint's Day.  Thus America created the taboo, Halloween.   It is the Hispanic influence which brings about the idea of candy.  During the "Day of the Dead" goods are gathered as an offering for the spirits.   The Irish influence brought about the idea of the  jack o lantern.  Legend tells of a man named Jack who old his soul to the devil.   The only way he could ward off Satan was with a lantern.  From this the "Jack o lantern" came.  Initially the Irish carved these lanterns out of turnips.  When Irish settlers came to America during the potato famine they discovered a shortage of turnips and thus opted to use pumpkins.  

Trick or treating has perhaps the most bizarre history.  During the middle ages the poor would visit the wealthier citizens asking for food or even money.  If they were turned away one of two things occurred.  Some believe something similar to "bad karma" would befall them.  In other cultures the poor themselves would do mischievous deeds to the property of the rich.  This was done during Samhain, All Saint's Day, and All Soul's Day.  The idea of wearing costumes or masks comes from several cultures which would mock or imitate the dead on days which celebrated the recently departed.  

Again, there is still much debate about Halloween's history.  Documentaries have been made, books have been written, and all have been scoffed at by at least some who claim to be Halloween historians.  The only truths which  remain are; Halloween is an American conglomerated holiday of ancient practices and it is not and has never been evil.  Horror films and Haunted Houses have been attributed by nearly one hundred percent to the Americanization of these ancient spiritual holidays.  In conclusion whether you celebrate the festive time or not, it is all meant in good fun.