The history of Halloween
In the year 609 A.D., on the 13th of May, Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome to honor Christian martyrs. This led to the establishment of the Catholic holiday, All Martyrs Day, in the Western church. Later, Pope Gregory III expanded the celebration to include all saints and changed its date from May 13 to November 1.
As Christianity grew in the 9th century, it began to merge with and eventually replace traditional Celtic customs. In the year 1000, November 2 became known as All Souls’ Day, a time for commemorating departed loved ones. Many believe that this was an attempt by the church to incorporate and alter the existing Celtic festival of the dead into a more acceptable holiday.
The Samhain festivities were quite similar to the celebrations on All Souls' Day. People gathered around big bonfires, paraded through the streets, and dressed up in costumes resembling saints, angels, and devils. The day of All Saints was known by various names such as All-hallows or All-hallowmas (derived from Middle English Alholowmesse which meant All Saints' Day). Over time, the night before All Saints' Day, also known as Samhain in Celtic beliefs, became known as All-Hallows Eve and eventually evolved into the holiday we now call Halloween.
In America
Halloween was not widely celebrated in colonial New England due to the strict Protestant beliefs of the region. However, in Maryland and the southern colonies, Halloween was a much more prevalent holiday.
As the traditions and practices of various European and Native American groups intertwined, a unique version of Halloween took shape in America. The earliest festivities featured "play parties" that were open to the public and celebrated the bountiful harvest. People would gather to share ghostly tales, foretell each other's destinies, and partake in music and dance.
In colonial times, Halloween was celebrated with traditions like telling ghost stories and causing trouble. As the 19th century progressed, autumn festivals became more popular, but Halloween was still not recognized everywhere in the nation.
During the latter half of the 19th century, America experienced a surge of immigrants. Among them were millions of Irish people seeking refuge from the Irish Potato Famine. Their arrival played a significant role in spreading the practice of Halloween festivities throughout the nation.
History of Trick-or-Treating
Influenced by European customs, Americans adopted the tradition of dressing up in costumes and going door to door requesting treats or monetary donations. This eventually evolved into the modern "trick-or-treat" tradition. It was believed that on Halloween, young women could use yarn, apple peels, or mirrors to discover the name or appearance of their future spouse through various tricks.
By the late 1800s, there was a growing movement in America to transform Halloween into a holiday centered on fostering community and bringing neighbors together, rather than focusing on ghosts, tricks, and witchcraft. As the new century approached, Halloween parties for people of all ages became the most popular way to commemorate the day. These gatherings revolved around fun games, seasonal treats, and creative costumes.
Between 1920 and 1950, the centuries-old tradition of trick-or-treating experienced a resurgence. This practice allowed for the entire community to come together and celebrate Halloween without spending too much money. In addition, families could ensure that they wouldn't be subjected to any pranks by giving out small treats to the local children.
Halloween Parties
As the 1920s and 1930s rolled around, Halloween evolved into a holiday that was more focused on community rather than religion. Parades and town-wide parties became the main forms of entertainment during this time. Despite the attempts of schools and communities to maintain order, vandalism became a problem at many celebrations
In the 1950s, town officials were able to control vandalism during Halloween and the holiday became focused on entertaining children. With a significant increase in youngsters during the baby boom of the fifties, parties moved from public venues to classrooms or homes for easier management.
And so, a new custom was created in America, and it has only grown since then. Presently, Americans are estimated to spend around $6 billion every year on Halloween, making it the second most profitable holiday in the country, only behind Christmas.
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