Happy Halloween!
The Celts were a people who lived in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales over 2,000 years ago. They celebrated Samhain on November 1st to mark the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the winter. The Celts believed that on this night, the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead was thin, and that spirits could cross over into the world of the living.
To protect themselves from evil spirits, the Celts would build bonfires, wear masks and costumes, and leave food and drink out for the dead. They also practiced divination rituals to try to predict the future.
In the 8th century AD, Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as All Saints' Day, a day to honor all Christian saints. The evening before All Saints' Day became known as All Hallows' Eve, and eventually Halloween.
Over time, many of the pagan traditions of Samhain were incorporated into Halloween. For example, the practice of wearing costumes and masks is thought to have originated from the Celtic belief that evil spirits could be disguised as humans on Samhain night.
The tradition of trick-or-treating is also thought to have pagan roots. In the Middle Ages, people would go door-to-door on All Souls' Day begging for food and drink in exchange for prayers for the dead. This practice eventually evolved into trick-or-treating.
Halloween was brought to the United States by Irish and Scottish immigrants in the 19th century. It quickly became a popular holiday, and today it is one of the most celebrated holidays in the country.
Today, Halloween is a time for people of all ages to dress up in costumes, go trick-or-treating, attend parties, and carve pumpkins. In some cultures it is also a time to remember the dead and to reflect on the darkness and mystery of the world.
Fun facts about Halloween:
The largest pumpkin ever grown weighed over 2,600 pounds
The first Halloween jack-o'-lantern was made from a turnip.
The black cat is a traditional Halloween symbol because it was once believed to be a witch's familiar.
The colors orange and black are associated with Halloween because they represent the harvest season and death.
The most popular Halloween candy in the United States is chocolate.
Happy Halloween!
