If you’ve ever been trick-or-treating, you’ve seen that one kid in a white sheet with holes cut out for eyes, and you probably thought, “Well, that was thrown together in thirty seconds flat.” Though it doesn’t look like much of a costume, that person was paying a tribute to All Hallow’s Eve – and the apparitions that shaped the holiday 2,000 years ago. Read on for some interesting facts about ghosts and how this candy-lover’s holiday began.

 The Celts, living in Ireland around 25 AD, celebrated “Samhain” (pronounced sow-in) on October 31 – a holiday marking the end of summer. They believed that that night, the borderline between our world and that of the dead became hazy, allowing spirits to rise and walk the earth once more.

 Besides the fact that they were believed to destroy crops and wreak havoc, these ghosts were also believed by the Celts to be beneficial. It was thought that their presence made it easier for the Celtic priests, or Druids, to forecast the future. The Druids would create bonfires and the Celts dress in costume, all of them wondering what the predictions would say – would their village survive the winter?

 When 43 AD rolled around, the vast majority of Celtic lands was controlled by the Roman Empire. With time, Roman holidays had influenced Sahaim. These were Feralia and the day to honor Pomona. Then, in 609, All Martyrs Day was established in the Western church when Pope Boniface the Fourth dedicated the Pantheon in Rome. 

 It was altered over the years, and became All Souls’ Day in the year 1000 – closely related to Sahaim, with costumes, bonfires, and parades. In time, the night before the holiday became widely known as All-Hallows Eve. Thus, in the end, we have Halloween.

 All in all, Halloween is a holiday that spans across the ages…creating traditions and memories for both young and old. So, next time you see that kid in the sheet, remember how it all started thousands of years ago – with some mischievous poltergeists, predicting the future and marring crops. 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!