History of Halloween

Halloween comes from the time of the Celtics with the festival of Samhain (sow-in). 2,000 years ago what is now called Ireland, United Kingdom, and northern France on November 1 was the end of summer and harvest and the beginning of winter which was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the boundary between the living and the dead disappeared. On October 31, they celebrated Samhain when it is believed that the dead return to earth. The dead would help Druids (Celtic priest) tell the future and also destroy crops and cause trouble.

On this night the Druids would build huge sacred bonfires where everyone would come to burn crops and animals to satisfy the Celtic deities. During this celebration the Celts wore costumes made mostly of animal heads and skins. After the celebration was over they re lite their hearths with the fire from the sacred bonfire to help protect their homes during the cold, harsh winter.

By A.D. 43 the Romans had conquered most of the Celtic land. Two celebrations from the Romans were combined with the festival of Samhain. The first was Feralia, A day in October that the Romans commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to to honor Pomona (Roman goddess of fruit and trees). The symbol of the goddess is an apple. this day is the origin of "bobbing for apples".

By the 800s, Christianity was being spread through Celtic lands. Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 as All Saints' Day. The night of Samhain was now being called All-hallows Eve, And eventually Halloween. In A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated like Samhain, with bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes. Together the three celebrations were called Hallowmas.