In order to avoid being recognized by any soul that might be seeking such vengeance, people would don masks or costumes to disguise their identities". In Canada, in 2006, UNICEF decided to discontinue their Halloween collection boxes, citing safety and administrative concerns; after consultation with schools, they instead redesigned the program. As a result of the fire, eight teenagers perished. [130], In Ireland and Scotland, the turnip has traditionally been carved during Halloween,[131][132] but immigrants to North America used the native pumpkin, which is both much softer and much larger – making it easier to carve than a turnip. Impersonating these beings, or wearing a disguise, was also believed to protect oneself from them. It is celebrated in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, usually in mid-September. [39] Historian Nicholas Rogers, exploring the origins of Halloween, notes that while "some folklorists have detected its origins in the Roman feast of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds, or in the festival of the dead called Parentalia, it is more typically linked to the Celtic festival of Samhain, which comes from the Old Irish for 'summer's end'."[40]. In the 7th century CE, Pope Boniface IV created All Saints Day, originally celebrated on May 13. After a life of sin, drink, and mendacity, Jack is refused entry to heaven when he dies. [46] In some places, torches lit from the bonfire were carried sunwise around homes and fields to protect them. Today Halloween is considered a holiday for dress-up and fun, especially for children. [89], The following activities were a common feature of Halloween in Ireland and Britain during the 17th–20th centuries. Danaher, Kevin. [34] It comes from a Scottish term for All Hallows' Eve (the evening before All Hallows' Day). [69] Traditionally, pranksters used hollowed out turnips or mangel wurzels often carved with grotesque faces as lanterns. [1][2][3], O LORD our God, increase, we pray thee, and multiply upon us the gifts of thy grace: that we, who do prevent the glorious festival of all thy Saints, may of thee be enabled joyfully to follow them in all virtuous and godly living. [105] On Halloween, in Italy, some families left a large meal out for ghosts of their passed relatives, before they departed for church services. [212], On All Hallows' Eve, many Western Christian denominations encourage abstinence from meat, giving rise to a variety of vegetarian foods associated with this day.[213]. [176] In recent centuries, these divination games have been "a common feature of the household festivities" in Ireland and Britain. As such they are threatening. These were known as "soul lights". It was last produced in 1982. Wearing costumes and playing pranks at Halloween spread to England in the 20th century. One held a bunch of burning straw on a pitchfork while the rest knelt around him in a circle, praying for the souls of relatives and friends until the flames went out. [139] One of the earliest works on the subject of Halloween is from Scottish poet John Mayne, who, in 1780, made note of pranks at Halloween; "What fearfu' pranks ensue! 2,000 years ago, the United Kingdom was a very different place, and much of it was inhabited by the nature-worshipping Celts and their mystical druidic traditions. [236][237], Some Christians feel concerned about the modern celebration of Halloween because they feel it trivializes – or celebrates – paganism, the occult, or other practices and cultural phenomena deemed incompatible with their beliefs. If it is just a game, there is no harm in that. Ist Halloween schon wieder out? [96], It is claimed that in the Middle Ages, churches that were too poor to display the relics of martyred saints at Allhallowtide let parishioners dress up as saints instead. The names have been used by historians to refer to Celtic Halloween customs up until the 19th century,[45] and are still the Gaelic and Welsh names for Halloween. [214] While there is evidence of such incidents,[215] relative to the degree of reporting of such cases, actual cases involving malicious acts are extremely rare and have never resulted in serious injury. [69] From at least the 18th century, "imitating malignant spirits" led to playing pranks in Ireland and the Scottish Highlands. In America, the real explosion of Halloween happened when the Irish immigrants came and brought their practice with them. All Halloween customs in the United States are borrowed directly or adapted from those of other countries". [89] The custom dates back at least as far as the 15th century[90] and was found in parts of England, Flanders, Germany and Austria. [168][169], "Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF" is a fundraising program to support UNICEF,[89] a United Nations Programme that provides humanitarian aid to children in developing countries. Rogers, Nicholas (2002). It was believed that on that day, the souls of the dead returned to their homes, so people dressed in costumes and lit bonfires to ward off spirits. Virtually all of the few known candy poisoning incidents involved parents who poisoned their own children's candy.[216]. [172] Such and other potentially offensive costumes have been met with increasing public disapproval. The justification for the decision, that Halloween parties and costume parades exclude children whose religion prohibits Halloween celebration, has raised the question: is Halloween … [243][244] Many fundamentalist and evangelical churches use "Hell houses" and comic-style tracts in order to make use of Halloween's popularity as an opportunity for evangelism. It celebrated the end of summer and harvest time. [99] Lesley Bannatyne believes this could have been a Christianization of an earlier pagan custom. [249] Reform Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser has said that "There is no religious reason why contemporary Jews should not celebrate Halloween" while Orthodox Rabbi Michael Broyde has argued against Jews' observing the holiday. The first American colonists in New England were forbidden to celebrate it for religious reasons, though it enjoyed some popularity in the Southern colonies. Yet this celebration has become popular in many parts of the world. [73][74] They were common in parts of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands in the 19th century,[69] as well as in Somerset (see Punkie Night). [58] In 19th century Ireland, "candles would be lit and prayers formally offered for the souls of the dead. Samhain, which means summer's end, is thought to have been a pagan Celtic festival. ", "Real-life witches that don't celebrate Halloween", "Halloween firework injuries are on the increase", "¿Cómo se introduce la fiesta de Halloween en Chile? "A Victim of the Window-Soaping Brigade?". [69], Today's Halloween customs are thought to have been influenced by Christian dogma and practices derived from it. The Celts’ new year began on November 1, so the day before—October 31st—was marked by … [240] Similarly, many contemporary Protestant churches view Halloween as a fun event for children, holding events in their churches where children and their parents can dress up, play games, and get candy for free. Is there activity of demonic spirits in the world today? [75] Halloween is the evening before the Christian holy days of All Hallows' Day (also known as All Saints' or Hallowmas) on 1 November and All Souls' Day on 2 November, thus giving the holiday on 31 October the full name of All Hallows' Eve (meaning the evening before All Hallows' Day). To these Christians, Halloween holds no threat to the spiritual lives of children: being taught about death and mortality, and the ways of the Celtic ancestors actually being a valuable life lesson and a part of many of their parishioners' heritage. [263] Mass transatlantic immigration in the 19th century popularized Halloween in North America, and celebration in the United States and Canada has had a significant impact on how the event is observed in other nations. Rogers, Nicholas. Halloween imagery includes themes of death, evil, and mythical monsters. It does, however, layout some important principles that we should be familiar with and that may impact whether we think celebrating Halloween is a sin. [16] Other academics believe, however, that Halloween began solely as a Christian holiday, being the vigil of All Hallow's Day. The day before the saintly celebration became known as All Hallows Eve, or Halloween. The rod is spun round and everyone takes turns to try to catch the apple with their teeth.[179]. Believing that on Samhain, the dead would come back to visit, people wore masks and left food on their doorsteps to divert the spirits. [44] Samhain is mentioned in some of the earliest Irish literature. [252][253] Dar Al-Ifta Al-Missriyyah disagrees provided the celebration is not referred to as an 'eid' and that behaviour remains in line with Islamic principles. [220], The Christian Church traditionally observed Hallowe'en through a vigil. Main Street, U.S.A will also have colorful banners, carved pumpkins, and seasonal window decor around The Emporium and The Confectionary. Scotland. [177] Some also suggest that they derive from Roman practices in celebration of Pomona. "[144] These feast days included All Hallows' Eve, Christmas, Twelfth Night and Shrove Tuesday. [105][106][107] Many Christians in mainland Europe, especially in France, believed "that once a year, on Hallowe'en, the dead of the churchyards rose for one wild, hideous carnival" known as the danse macabre, which has often been depicted in church decoration. [117], In France, some Christian families, on the night of All Hallows' Eve, prayed beside the graves of their loved ones, setting down dishes full of milk for them. [238] Father Gabriele Amorth, an exorcist in Rome, has said, "if English and American children like to dress up as witches and devils on one night of the year that is not a problem. [90][91][92] Soul cakes would also be offered for the souls themselves to eat,[58] or the 'soulers' would act as their representatives. [102][127] There is a popular Irish Christian folktale associated with the jack-o'-lantern,[128] which in folklore is said to represent a "soul who has been denied entry into both heaven and hell":[129], On route home after a night's drinking, Jack encounters the Devil and tricks him into climbing a tree. While the traditions of this holiday originate in Celtic countries, modern day Wiccans don't try to historically replicate Samhain celebrations. Halloween’s origins can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain, which was held on November 1 in contemporary calendars. [84] They may have seen it as the most fitting time to do so, as it is a time of 'dying' in nature. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/is-halloween-celebrated-in-halloween.html [21] In many parts of the world, the Christian religious observances of All Hallows' Eve, including attending church services and lighting candles on the graves of the dead, remain popular,[22][23][24] although elsewhere it is a more commercial and secular celebration. [250], Sheikh Idris Palmer, author of A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam, has ruled that Muslims should not participate in Halloween, stating that "participation in Halloween is worse than participation in Christmas, Easter, ... it is more sinful than congratulating the Christians for their prostration to the crucifix". [101] It has been suggested that the carved jack-o'-lantern, a popular symbol of Halloween, originally represented the souls of the dead. If the nuts jump away from the heat, it is a bad sign, but if the nuts roast quietly it foretells a good match. [195], Up until the 19th century, the Halloween bonfires were also used for divination in parts of Scotland, Wales and Brittany. [142], Trick-or-treating is a customary celebration for children on Halloween. Halloween costumes are traditionally modeled after supernatural figures such as vampires, monsters, ghosts, skeletons, witches, and devils. [254], Hindus remember the dead during the festival of Pitru Paksha, during which Hindus pay homage to and perform a ceremony "to keep the souls of their ancestors at rest". [119], Lesley Bannatyne and Cindy Ott write that Anglican colonists in the southern United States and Catholic colonists in Maryland "recognized All Hallow's Eve in their church calendars",[120][121] although the Puritans of New England maintained strong opposition to the holiday, along with other traditional celebrations of the established Church, including Christmas. This is said to result in a dream in which their future spouse offers them a drink to quench their thirst. Because in the Northern Hemisphere Halloween comes in the wake of the yearly apple harvest, candy apples (known as toffee apples outside North America), caramel apples or taffy apples are common Halloween treats made by rolling whole apples in a sticky sugar syrup, sometimes followed by rolling them in nuts. [138] Traditionally, the back walls of churches are "decorated with a depiction of the Last Judgment, complete with graves opening and the dead rising, with a heaven filled with angels and a hell filled with devils", a motif that has permeated the observance of this triduum. Additionally, there are other festivities that are like Halloween in that they celebrate the existence and activity of spirit creatures. Hallow means holy. "Trunk or Treat! Luckily, this isn't a nationwide switch—you don't have to trick-or-treat or celebrate Halloween on the last Saturday of the month. "Razor in the Apple: Struggle for Safe and Sane Halloween, How do Filipinos Celebrate the Halloween? A person's future would be foretold by the item they happened to find; for example, a ring meant marriage and a coin meant wealth. [94] Shakespeare mentions souling in his comedy The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1593). [203] Other Jaycees followed suit with their own versions after the success of the Ohio house. [17][18][19][20], Halloween activities include trick-or-treating (or the related guising and souling), attending Halloween costume parties, carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, divination games, playing pranks, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary stories, as well as watching horror films. [122] Almanacs of the late 18th and early 19th century give no indication that Halloween was widely celebrated in North America. For most families, seasonal activities will include shopping for a new costume, carving pumpkins and, of course, passing out snack-size confections by the handful. The most popular costumes for pets are the pumpkin, followed by the hot dog, and the bumble bee in third place. I've asked so many people. For the Celts, the day ended and began at sunset; thus the festival began on the evening before 7 November by modern reckoning (the half point between equinox and solstice). [95] On the custom of wearing costumes, Christian minister Prince Sorie Conteh wrote: "It was traditionally believed that the souls of the departed wandered the earth until All Saints' Day, and All Hallows' Eve provided one last chance for the dead to gain vengeance on their enemies before moving to the next world. [91] In the Philippines, the practice of souling is called Pangangaluwa and is practiced on All Hallow's Eve among children in rural areas. Don’t say trick-or-treat on Halloween in France. On All Hallows' Eve, Christians in some parts of the world visit cemeteries to pray and place flowers and candles on the graves of their loved ones. The San Bernardino Assistance League Haunted House opened in 1958. Linked to the Celtic holiday The item in the saucer would provide a hint as to their future: a ring would mean that they would marry soon; clay, that they would die soon, perhaps within the year; water, that they would emigrate; rosary beads, that they would take Holy Orders (become a nun, priest, monk, etc. [141] Black cats, which have been long associated with witches, are also a common symbol of Halloween. (2002) "Coming Over:Halloween in North America". But, all the while, the danse macabre urged them not to forget the end of all earthly things. [184] Unmarried women were told that if they sat in a darkened room and gazed into a mirror on Halloween night, the face of their future husband would appear in the mirror. Knott's Scary Farm experienced a surge in attendance in the 1990s as a result of America's obsession with Halloween as a cultural event. [170][171], Since the late 2010s, ethnic stereotypes as costumes have increasingly come under scrutiny in the United States. After this the eating, drinking, and games would begin". [53][54][55] The souls of the dead were also said to revisit their homes seeking hospitality. [56] Places were set at the dinner table and by the fire to welcome them. In Ireland, and among immigrants in Canada, a custom includes the Christian practice of abstinence, keeping All Hallows' Eve as a meat-free day, and serving pancakes or colcannon instead. [268] In the Philippines, during Halloween, Filipinos return to their hometowns and purchase candles and flowers,[269] in preparation for the following All Saints Day (Araw ng mga Patay) on 1 November and All Souls Day – though it falls on 2 November, most Filipinos observe it on the day before.[270]. There is now a large market for Halloween costumes, decorations and entertainment; and the sale of greeting cards, sweets and candies now reaches a distinct peak around Halloween time, only ranking after Christmas and Easter in importance to retailers. Today, Halloween is one of the biggest holidays for candy sales in the United States, exceeding $2.5 billion annually. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. [45] It is suggested that the fires were a kind of imitative or sympathetic magic – they mimicked the Sun, helping the "powers of growth" and holding back the decay and darkness of winter. [155], While the first reference to "guising" in North America occurs in 1911, another reference to ritual begging on Halloween appears, place unknown, in 1915, with a third reference in Chicago in 1920. [153], American historian and author Ruth Edna Kelley of Massachusetts wrote the first book-length history of Halloween in the US; The Book of Hallowe'en (1919), and references souling in the chapter "Hallowe'en in America". [50] The Aos Sí were both respected and feared, with individuals often invoking the protection of God when approaching their dwellings. So, what does Halloween have to do with Catholicism? [124] "In Cajun areas, a nocturnal Mass was said in cemeteries on Halloween night. [72] In Scotland, youths went house-to-house with masked, painted or blackened faces, often threatening to do mischief if they were not welcomed. [245] Others consider Halloween to be completely incompatible with the Christian faith due to its putative origins in the Festival of the Dead celebration. [166] Costuming became popular for Halloween parties in the US in the early 20th century, as often for adults as for children, and when trick-or-treating was becoming popular in Canada and the US in the 1920s and 1930s. Trick-or-treating is practically synonymous … The roots of Halloween are in the Celtic festival of Samhain (“SOW-win”) which marked the transition to the shorter, darker days of winter. [241] Christian minister Sam Portaro wrote that Halloween is about using "humor and ridicule to confront the power of death". Telling ghost stories, listening to Halloween-themed songs and watching horror films are common fixtures of Halloween parties. [35][37], Today's Halloween customs are thought to have been influenced by folk customs and beliefs from the Celtic-speaking countries, some of which are believed to have pagan roots. Halloween has generally been regarded as an American holiday. Halloween or Hallowe'en (a contraction of "All Hallows' evening"),[5] also known as Allhalloween,[6] All Hallows' Eve,[7] or All Saints' Eve,[8] is a celebration observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day. “The origin of candy and trick-or-treating for Halloween has to do with All Souls,” explains Lisa Mladnich, author and regular contributor to Morning Air ®. Bold indicates major holidays commonly celebrated in the United States, which often represent the major celebrations of the month. An apple would be peeled in one long strip, then the peel tossed over the shoulder. Originally a religious observance, it became increasingly secular over the centuries until its religious trappings all but disappeared. It may have originally been a tradition whereby people impersonated the Aos Sí, or the souls of the dead, and received offerings on their behalf, similar to the custom of souling (see below). The first recorded purpose-built haunted attraction was the Orton and Spooner Ghost House, which opened in 1915 in Liphook, England. It was cosponsored by WSAI, an AM radio station broadcasting out of Cincinnati, Ohio. [175], There are several games traditionally associated with Halloween. O'Donnell, Hugh and Foley, Malcolm (2008). [76][113] Mark Donnelly, a professor of medieval archaeology, and historian Daniel Diehl, with regard to the evil spirits, on Halloween, write that "barns and homes were blessed to protect people and livestock from the effect of witches, who were believed to accompany the malignant spirits as they traveled the earth. By 1950, trick-or-treating for candy had become one of Halloween’s most popular activities. [192][193][194], In Ireland and Scotland, items would be hidden in food – usually a cake, barmbrack, cranachan, champ or colcannon – and portions of it served out at random. [151] The practice of guising at Halloween in North America is first recorded in 1911, where a newspaper in Kingston, Ontario, Canada reported children going "guising" around the neighborhood. In Celtic mythology, apples were strongly associated with the Otherworld and immortality, while hazelnuts were associated with divine wisdom. This group of mysterious warriors had once spread across much of northern Europe, but had eventually been pushed back to the UK islands with the spread of the Roman empire. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Should Christians celebrate Halloween? In Wales, Ireland, Scotland, and England, you’ll find Halloween celebrated the way Americans celebrate it. Another once-popular game involves hanging a small wooden rod from the ceiling at head height, with a lit candle on one end and an apple hanging from the other. [66], From at least the 16th century,[68] the festival included mumming and guising in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man and Wales. In this way, popular Halloween tropes such as witches, ghosts, and goblins became associated with the holiday.