H a l l o w e e n
Happening on October 31, Halloween is a
beloved spooky day—and one of the oldest
traditions in the world. According to some
legends, the Celts, who lived in what's now
Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern
France, pioneered the festival over 2,000
years ago. The initial observance, Samhain,
served as their New Year's Eve, the end of
summer, and the beginning of winter.
During Samhain, people believed the
veil between the living and dead was its
thinnest, allowing spirits to enter our realm
easily. Celebrants would light bonfires
to ward off ghosts, wear costumes and
masks to fool them, and leave small, sweet
offerings outside their doors to appease
them (sound familiar?).
Centuries later, Christianity extended
to Celtic territories, and the Celtic New
Year on November 1 was replaced with All
Saints' Day or All Hallows' Day. The night
before—originally Samhain—became All
Hallows' Eve, ultimately shortening
to Halloween.
When Scottish and Irish immigrants came
to North America in the 1800s, they
brought the holiday and its shenanigans.
Their Halloween practices meshed with
those of other ethnic groups and evolved
into the commercial affair we know today.
H o w t o C e l e b r a t e :
• Decorate with bats, spider webs,
skeletons, witches, and ghosts
• Carve pumpkins
• Go trick-or-treating
• Dress up in a costume
• Watch a scary movie
• Bob for apples
COMING HOME MAGAZINE 19
