The True History and Legends of the Halloween

As the leaves begin to fall and the cool weather approaches, the Halloween festival is almost upon us. Many know it as a mysterious day filled with fancy costumes and Trick or Treat, but the truth is that this festival is rooted in deep historical foundations and ancient legends.

1. The Origin of Halloween is Samhain (Sow-in)

The Halloween festival traces its roots back to the Samhain festival of the Celtic people, who inhabited Ireland, Scotland, and England. It was held to celebrate the end of summer, the harvest season, and the beginning of the Celtic New Year (which fell on November 1st).

Ancient Belief : The Celts believed that the night before the New Year, October 31st, was the night when the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead blurred (Veil Between Worlds is Thinnest). This allowed spirits, ghosts, and evil forces to return to the human world.

Dressing Up: People would dress up as ghosts, demons, or mysterious beings to disguise themselves so that the spirits would not recognize them or try to possess them. This tradition has evolved into the fancy dress costumes we know today.

2. The Legend of Jack O' Lantern Was Originally a Turnip

One of the most prominent symbols of Halloween is the carved pumpkin lantern, which originated from a long-standing Irish folktale about a cunning and stingy man named Jack.

• Jack's Story: Jack managed to trick the Devil twice, making the Devil promise not to take him to Hell. When Jack died, his soul was barred from Heaven due to his sins, and the Devil refused him entry to Hell as per their agreement.
• The Lantern: Jack was thus left to wander in the darkness between worlds. The Devil threw him a burning coal from Hell to light his way. Jack put this coal inside a carved turnip to create a lantern.

The Switch to Pumpkin: When this tradition migrated to North America, people discovered that pumpkins were much easier to find and carve than turnips, leading to the substitution that created the modern symbol.

3. Trick or Treat Was More Than Just Asking for Candy

The familiar phrase Trick or Treat, a quintessential Halloween symbol, has a deeper, more profound origin than simply begging for candy. Its history goes back to the 9th century in Europe with the custom known as Souling.

In this tradition, poor people would walk from house to house asking for Soul Cakessmall sweet cookiesin exchange for praying for the souls of the homeowners deceased relatives. When the custom was brought to North America, it gradually evolved into the fun activity where children in costume go door-to-door saying, Trick or Treat!

4. The Symbolic Meaning of Black and Orange

The signature colors of Halloween, black and orange, were not chosen by chance but hold deep symbolic meanings reflecting both nature and ancient beliefs:

• Orange : Represents autumn, the harvest, and the warmth of the bonfires the ancient people lit on Samhain night to ward off evil. It signifies life, abundance, and the seasonal transition.
• Black : Represents darkness, death, and the mystery of the night, strongly linked to the belief that the spirits of the deceased returned to the earthly world on October 31st.
  
  As the Halloween season approaches, anyone looking for a variety of delicious sweets, decorations, and fun gifts to prepare for the little candy hunters knocking on your door with a Trick or Treat! can find them at all Rimping branches.