Halloween was already celebrated in Europe
over 2000 years ago! It was the new year of the Celts, who lived in the
Northwest of the Old Continent, in an area that included Ireland, part of
today’s UK, and northern France (a mini European Union, so to speak). It
represented those tribes’ New Year (Samhain), which fell on the first day of
November, and which signalled the end of the harvest and of the clement
temperatures, and the beginning of a darker and colder season.
As it marked the
end of one year and the beginning of the next one, Celtic people and their
priests, the Druids, were honouring the dead and believed that the latter’s
souls were present among the living on the eve of this transition.
The Catholic Church a few centuries later
capitalised on this tradition and established the commemoration of the martyrs
of the faith on the 1st of November. Pope Gregory III in the eighth
century included all the saints of the Church in the celebration, which became
known as ‘All-Hallows.’ The night before was called by the inhabitants of the
Celtic region ‘All-Hallows Eve’, thus ‘Halloween.’
As poverty and famine forced large numbers
of Irish and Britons to migrate to North America, the tradition travelled with
them and took roots in the Catholic parts of the New Continent. Over time, it
lost its religious meaning and became a secular festival, aiming at providing
good time for children and adults alike. Some of its old aspects—like giving
food and other items—have survived until today.
In most of Europe the tradition was lost
for a long time, but it has come back, in its American version. The festival has gained popularity in almost every country of the world, including China!
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| Halloween Vintage 05- Postcard c. 1900-1910 |
Halloween now coincides with the religious
holiday of All-Saints, on 1st November. It precedes All-Souls Day,
which is on 2nd November and reminds of the deceased members of
families and of friends.
Halloween is not an official (i.e.,
Federal or national) holiday in the U.S., Canada, or Britain. Catholic states in Europe and
other parts of the world officially celebrate All-Saints and All-Souls together
on the 1st of November.
Although Halloween is not a day during
which exchange of presents is socially mandatory, as at Christmas or at Muslim
Bayramlar, spending in candies and small gifts is considerable. In spite of the
economic crisis of the past years, such spending has grown in the United States
from US$ 5.18 billion in 2007 to $8.48 billion in 2016 (estimates for the
current year by Prosper Insights & Analytics).
For more details on the origins and
evolution of Halloween, see the article on the festival’s history posted at
Moodle.
Credit for image: Wikimedia Commons
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