What is the history of Halloween? The history of Halloween is associated with the Celtic holiday Samhain – All Saints’ Day (All Souls’ Day), which was celebrated back in the 4th century BC. e. in Ireland and Scotland.
It has always been celebrated on the last day of October – a symbolic time of the meeting of autumn with winter, the transition from the light season to the dark, writes Heather Thomas in the article “The Origins of Halloween Traditions.” People believed that during Samhain, evil spirits returned to the earth and wandered around in search of a lost soul.
It was believed that during the night they would calm down and return to their world by morning. Celebrating Samhain, the ancient Celts lit bonfires, made sacrifices to the gods, and dressed in ritual costumes, portraying evil spirits. This is due to the desire to confuse the evil spirits, because ghosts can mistake a person in a mask for one of their own and will not harm him.
The mummers walked the streets, knocked on houses and demanded treats. A popular activity was evening fortune-telling for the betrothed and for a change of residence. What does Halloween mean? The Christian Church in the 8th century combined the pagan All Souls’ Day (October 31) with All Saints’ Day (November 1). The name Halloween comes from the Old English version of “All hallow ees” – ‘mass of all saints’. Over the centuries, this phrase has changed, turning first into All Hallow’s Eve – the eve of All Hallows’ Day, and then into the shortened form Halloween – Halloween.