Category :

How Halloween Came to Be

Tags: ,
How Halloween costumes have evolved over the last 115 years.
how-halloween-came-to-be
How Halloween costume have evolved over the last 115 years – Daily Mail image

Today’s Halloween is thought to have its routes in the ancient Celtic celebration of Samhain, pronounced Sah-ween. October 31 marked the change between light and dark, summer and winter and the harvest, which could mean the difference between surviving the winter or not.  This was also the time that the recently dead might come back and could cause damage to the harvesting crops, so masks and costumes were worn to appease the dead or frighten them away.  In addition, some believed that Faeries roamed dressed as beggars asking for food; those who gave them food were rewarded, those who did not were punished.  All Saints Day was originally designated in May, but was later moved to November 1, perhaps acknowledging people’s continuing to celebrate of Samhain.  In the Middle Ages, the poor went door-to-door on November 1, Hallowmas, All Saints Day, offering to pray for the dead in exchange for food-even Shakespeare mentions the practice in his play, Two Gentlemen of Verona.

halloween_histroy
Spooky Halloween

Jack O’lanterns may have come from the pagan practice of using hollowed-out turnips to carry embers from sacred fires back to light their home hearth.  Another popular tale from Ireland tells the story of Stingy Jack, a drunkard and thief, who tricked the devil multiple times, finally getting him to agree not to take his soul when he died.  Stingy Jack wasn’t allowed into heaven, but the devil didn’t take his soul either, so Stingy Jack was condemned to wonder the earth.  The devil took pity on him, though, and gave him a hollowed-out turnip with an ember inside to light his way, thus the origin of Jack O’lanterns!  The size of the pumpkin helped it replace the turnip.

Irish immigrants to the United States in the mid-1800’s, fleeing famine, may have brought the traditions of Jack O’lanterns, Halloween and All Saints Day with them.   Halloween is now the nation’s second biggest commercial holiday, with nearly $7 billion in spending.

Share This Article!

About the Author: Yvonne Wonder

As the founder and managing director of Destination Sitters, LLC, an entrepreneur for over 35 years, 17 years of which has been in childcare relating to the travel sector. I am the mother of two children, I strongly believe that family comes first. Especially when traveling away from home, there is nothing like the peace of mind that comes from getting great professional childcare to care for your children while on vacation. We refer fully vetted and trusted sitters at your travel destination – we come directly to your hotel, vacation rental, Airbnb or event venue! Through the development and growth of Destination Sitters, LLC a national babysitting service brand for traveling parents we currently provide babysitting services in 20 US cities. We service more than 5k hotels nationally, wedding & event planners, and DMC’s from to coast coasts. Whether you are traveling for leisure, business, or a wedding, this time you can bring your kids – your children will be looked after in the safety of your hotel room.

We’ve transformed the way parents can travel with their kids!

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Get helpful tips and advice for traveling with kids.