So we’re well in to October now, which means full on Halloween prep and pumpkin spice everything. There are many popular Halloween traditions, from carving pumpkins to dressing up in costumes, but do you know the origins and history behind the holiday?
I decided to look it up...
Origins of Halloween
The origin of Halloween dates back over 2,000 years ago and has its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in) in Ireland and other parts of the United Kingdom. The Celts celebrated their New Year on November 1st, which marked the end of summer (and the harvest) and the beginning of winter. October 31stbecame a night of celebration. On that night it was believed that the spirits of the dead were able to walk the earth. To commemorate the event, the Celts dressed up in costumes and built huge bonfires to burn crops and make sacrifices. When Samhain was over, they re-lit their hearth fires from the sacred bon fire in order to protect their families during the winter.
The Holiday Evolves
In 8thCentury, Pope Gregory III designated November 1st All Saints’ Day or All Hallows Eve, a time to honor all saints and martyrs. The holiday incorporated many of the Samhain traditions, including bonfires, parades and dressing up in costumes. Eventually, All Hallows Eve became known as Halloween.
The more popular traditions in the US (such as dressing up & trick or treating) didn’t begin to take shape until the second half the 19thcentury, mostly due to the large influx of Irish immigrants who began arriving in the 1840s. It wasn’t until the 1950s that Halloween evolved into a secular holiday aimed mainly at children.
Check out HistoryChannel.com for more in-depth history of Halloween.
Here is some more Halloween Trivia:
-Jack o’ Lanterns originated in Ireland where people placed candles in hollowed-out turnips to keep the spirits and ghosts away on the Samhain holiday.
-The word witch comes from "wica", an Old Saxon word that means "wise one". The early witches were known for their skills with medicinal herbs.
-It takes an average of 252 licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop.
-According to the National Confectioner’s Association, more than 35 million pounds of candy corn will be produced this year.
-Tootsie Rolls were the first wrapped penny candy in America.
-Halloween candy sales in the US average about $2 billion dollars annually.
-Bobbing for apples is thought to have originated from the Roman harvest festival that honors Pamona, the goddess of fruit trees.
-Black cats were once believed to be witch's familiars who protected their powers.
Kristin Wallace is the USA Today Best Selling Author of inspirational and contemporary romance, and women’s fiction filled with “Love, Laughter and a Leap of Faith”. She is the author of three best selling series, Palm Cove Tales, Shellwater Key Tales and Covington Falls Chronicles. Her latest release is SECOND CHANCE CHRISTMAS, 1 of 9 holiday novellas in Sweet Christmas Kisses 5. Available now for only 99cents.
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2 comments:
It's always interesting to learn more about holidays and their traditions, Kristin! Fun post!
Fun post Kristin! Amazing figures about the amount of candy corn made and the Halloween candy business. As I'm not a candy corn fan, I'm dumbfounded.
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