When the ancient Celtics in medieval Ireland launched their festival of Samhain, the long history of Halloween began. About 1,500 years ago, the Pope put in his two cents worth with all Saints Day, a Catholic holiday meant to undermine the Celt’s Pagan practices. When the doorbell rings repeatedly Sun night, Americans can thank the Pope and also the Pagans for supplying the fundamentals of trick-or-treat, which was built into its present day form by the marketing of candy companies.
Let the Pagan celebration begin
The history of Halloween begins with the Celts. Farmers would honor the sun with the festival, Samhain, at the end of summer in order for the sun to come back in the spring. The farmers were the Celts. They thought that the living and dead worlds were getting closer when the days got shorter and plants went dormant. Samhain was on the exact same day yearly. October 31 was this day. The Celts would leave food overnight outside for the ghosts. They would also build bonfires and wear costumes in memory of the dead. Candles were put in hallowed out vegetable that children cut scary faces into in order to lure the spirits. The kids would also go to their neighbors. Then they’d smash bottles and vegetables.
All Hallows’ Even and also the Pope
The modern version of Halloween is more from Pope Gregory III. All Saints Day was declared by him as November 1. Giving up Samhain and the celebration of the dead was something Celtic Pagans weren’t willing to do, although they didn’t mind going along with it. The Pope would continue to let the Celts party under one condition. They had to be doing it for the saints only. Going “a-souling” had been what many started doing, which was where people went door to door asking for food and drink in exchange for a pray for dead relatives. All Saint Day was changed to a different name. All Hallows was what it changed to. Hallowe’en originated from All Hallows’ Even. This had been the very same night as Samhain, or the night before.
Then there’s the trick or treat
Hallowe’en came to America with the influx of Irish immigrants within the 19th century. In the 1920s and ’30s, Halloween trick or treating was just an extortion. In the 1940s, it became something to happen throughout the U.S.. In the 1950s, candy companies and also the advertising industry recognized Halloween as a lucrative opportunity. There is expected to be over $2 billion sold in candy just this year for Halloween reports the National Confectioners Assocations. About $20.29 will be sold this year in for the average American family on Halloween candy.
Articles cited
UP Post
ubpost.mongolnews.mn/index.php?option=com_content and amp;task=view and amp;id=5468 and amp;Itemid=45
Stars on Top
starsontop.com/2010/10/the-haunted-history-of-halloween/
CNN
eatocracy.cnn.com/2010/10/20/candy-sales-king-sized-this-halloween/
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween
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