Natalee Wolfe
Happy Halloween Everyone! Today is a spooky day known for costumes, candy and fright. However, its origins go much deeper than the tradition we know today. Halloween has evolved from ancient rituals being adapted over time. One place to connect Halloween back is through the Celtic festival of Samhain. Samhain signified the end of harvest and was associated with death. The Celtic’s believed that on October 31st, spirits could cross over into the living world. In order to protect themselves they would light big bonfires and perform rituals honoring their ancestors. The Celtics also used costumes and masks made out of animal skin to trick any spirits. When the Roman Empire joined the Celtic territories, Christian beliefs began to mix with the tradition of Samhain. During the 9th century, the church made the decision to make November first All Saints’ Day to honor the saints. This made the night before, October 31st, All Hallows’ Eve. Immigration brought this fun tradition over to the United States and now we celebrate Halloween every year.
https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween#ancient-origins-of-halloween
Edited by Addison Rutherford-11/05/2024