A Historical Halloween
It’s that time of the year when the leaves die and crunch beneath our feet, the air grows colder, and pumpkins appear on each and every porch. Known by most as Halloween, the spookiest holiday of them all, has many other names such as: All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints’ Eve, and Samhaim (pronounced SAH-WIN). A time for indulging in candy, merriment, and welcoming the dark half of the year, Halloween serves as a favorite for adults and children alike. And, our modern traditions might not seem so different from those of centuries ago.
It is believed that Halloween has its roots in the Celtic pagan holiday, Samhain. This festival was usually celebrated between October 31-November 1 to welcome in the dark half of the year and give thanks for the abundance of the last of the yearly harvest. It was also a time when large bonfires were lit to welcome in the spirits on the night when the veil between the spirit realm and earth was the thinnest. Many households who wished to honor their deceased relatives would perform a “dumb supper.” This is where a place is set out for spirits to eat at the table, and the living relatives serve and eat the meal in reverse (starting with dessert, ending with appetizers) and in complete silence.
It was also customary to costume oneself in a practice known as “mumming” or “guising” and go between homes, entertaining those along the way in exchange for food. Some would threaten mischief upon those who did not provide them with anything. Sounds a lot like our modern version of trick-or-treating, doesn’t it? Costuming was also used as a protection for oneself. When spirits would move across the veil, it was believed that the naughty ones would bring human spirits back with them at the end of the celebrations. Wearing a costume and disguising yourself as a spirit meant that no harm would come to you during the festivities.
Jack-o’-Lanterns also have their roots in Celtic pagan Samhain celebrations, but not quite as we recognize them now. Pumpkins did not grow in Europe prior to contact with North America. So, you might ask yourself, what did they carve if not pumpkins? Turnips, of course! You may also be thinking that turnips are not the most practical option, and you would be right. However, at a time when people grew their own food and lots of it, turnips were plentiful and hardy. One or two turnips could be spared for the celebrations and to ward off mischievous spirits. They also could be used as lanterns by guisers to light their way as they celebrated.
This holiday is about spirits and the connection between our world and theirs. This has been the dominant “reason for the season” for centuries. One method that was used to communicate with spirits was the practice of divination. Going back thousands of years, divination has its forms in almost every civilization. Wayne County has its own diviners: The Fox Sisters. Known as the founders of modern Spiritualism, Kate and Maggie Fox got their start in the 1840s when they believed that they were able to communicate with a spirit in their home in Hydesville, NY through the use of knocks and rapping. Spiritualism took off in the 19th century partly thanks to oldest-sister Leah’s managing and marketing skills of her younger sisters and their abilities. Seances became a popular sport amongst the elite who would host parties and bring in spiritualists to lead these ghost talks. Stage shows would be performed by Kate and Maggie, all the while making money to support themselves. Harry Houdini was a notable skeptic and constantly tried to prove that the girls were scammers. On the other hand, supporters such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (author of Sherlock Holmes), believed that genuine connection could be made with the spirits and spirit realm through the use of the right tools and sensitivities. An uptick in seances happen around halloween, due partly in fact to the idea that the veil is thin and communication is easier with the spirits. Spiritualism is still practiced today, although it does not hold the following it once did.
It is believed that as Christianity became the dominant religion in Europe and paganism was all but wiped out, that the festival of Samhain was changed to All Saints’ Day or All Hallows’ Day. It follows the same idea that departed souls would be prayed for and remembered on and around October 31-November 2, which is known as All Souls’ Day. The Roman empire had spread its control into Britain and churches in Ireland were celebrating these Christian days as early as the 9th century, approximately 400 years after the collapse of the Roman empire. For centuries, the rituals and celebrations once practiced by Celtic pagans had now flown under the radar. With the rise of Protestantism in England, many of these Catholic celebrations were seen as unnecessary. Folks on the outskirts, living in country towns, continued their own traditions that were pagan, catholic, or otherwise.
Our modern Halloween’s historical counterpart did not arrive when the puritans did. They also did not celebrate Christmas or many of the other established Christian holidays. Instead, Halloween arrived in the 19th century with the large-scale immigration of Irish, Scottish, and English people. With people come their traditions, and Halloween was no exception. Halloween in America really boomed in the 1920s and 30s. Due to the Great Depression, many costumes were handmade by children and their parents. At this point in time, Halloween walked a thin line: either children dressed up and had fun trick-or-treating OR teens would dress up and vandalize their town throughout the night. However, around the 1950s is when Halloween was marketed more towards children and costumes started to get creative. Halloween has become a centuries-old holiday with modern traditions and interpretations. ###
Sources:
“All Saints’ Day | Definition, History, Catholic, Holy Day of Obligation, Observances, & Facts | Britannica.” Britannica, October 9, 2026. https://www.britannica.com/topic/All-Saints-Day.
“Halloween.” Wikipedia, October 27, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween.
“Halloween: Origins, Movies & Traditions.” History.com, October 27, 2026. https://www.history.com/articles/history-of-halloween.
Pagan, Amanda. “A Brief History of Halloween.” Nypl.org, October 26, 2018. https://www.nypl.org/blog/2018/10/26/brief-history-halloween.
“Samhain.” Wikipedia, October 28, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain.
“Samhain: Celts, Traditions, Halloween, Wicca.” History.com, October 23, 2026. https://www.history.com/articles/samhain.
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