Halloween as Pagan Tradition

As Halloween is getting closer it is worth to remind ourselves where this tradition comes from.

Firstly, Halloween is a pagan tradition which was originally called Samhain- 'Summer's End". It was celebrated as the end of harvest season.

Additionally, Gaels believed that Halloween was a period of time during which walls between the world of the dead and of the living are the thiniest. Therefore, spirits are able to get to our world at this time. Moreover, it was believed that they are able to come back to life and damage people's crops.

Because of this food and drinks were prepared to welcome the spirits and to appease them. Besides, bonfires were supposed to scare the evil spirits off.

Trick and treat tradition started in the 16th Century in Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It looked similar to how it is nowadays as children would go door to door in costumes to ask for sweets in exchange for a song or a poem.

People were, as it is currently, dressing up as spirits to protect themselves from the spirits by looking like them.

It is worth to remember, however, that it is pagan tradition. So, Christians do not go trick or treat and do not participate in this tradition anyhow. It is because Christians celebrate a feast of All Saints on the 1st and of All Souls' Day on the 2nd of November to pray for souls of their deceased family members.


Image Source: http://cdn.amreading.com/wp-content/uploads/halloween-scary-wallpapers-8.jpg