The origins of Halloween stretch back more than 2,000 years to an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain (pronounced sow-in). Celebrated in the regions now known as Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, Samhain marked the end of summer, the close of the harvest season, and the onset of the dark, cold winter—a period often associated with death. For the Celts, who lived in tune with the cycles of nature, this was also the beginning of their new year on November 1. They believed that on the night of October 31, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead grew thin, allowing spirits of the deceased to return to the earth.
To protect their communities and seek guidance for the winter ahead, the Celts celebrated Samhain with sacred bonfires where they made offerings of crops and animals to appease their gods. Wearing costumes made from animal skins, the Celts gathered around these fires, sharing prophecies and seeking insight into their future. This was a deeply spiritual time, and the Druids, or Celtic priests, played a central role in these celebrations. They sought to reassure and guide their people through predictions, which held great significance for a society highly vulnerable to the harshness of winter.
When the Romans conquered Celtic lands by A.D. 43, they brought their own traditions with them, eventually merging some Roman celebrations with Samhain. One of these was Feralia, a late-October festival honoring the dead. Another was a celebration for Pomona, the goddess of fruit and trees, whose symbol was the apple—a possible origin of today’s bobbing-for-apples Halloween game.
As Christianity spread through Celtic lands by the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 as All Saints’ Day, or All Hallows, in an attempt to replace Samhain with a church-sanctioned celebration. The evening before All Saints’ Day became known as All Hallows’ Eve, eventually evolving into “Halloween.” This new Christian holiday retained some of the customs of Samhain, including bonfires, parades, and dressing in costumes, but it placed them in a new, religious context. Later, in A.D. 1000, the church established November 2 as All Souls’ Day, a time to honor the deceased in a Christian manner. Together, All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day became known as Hallowmas.
Halloween in America: From Harvest Celebrations to Trick-or-Treating
While the religious roots of Halloween often get lost in the modern-day celebrations filled with costumes, candy, and pumpkins, many of the traditions can still be traced back to these early Christian influences. The American tradition of “trick-or-treating,” for example, likely evolved from the practice of “souling” during the All Souls’ Day parades in medieval England. Poor citizens would go door-to-door begging for soul cakes in exchange for prayers for the dead, a practice encouraged by the church as a way to replace the pagan custom of offering food to wandering spirits.
Halloween in America was also influenced by various European customs. Early American celebrations often centered around the fall harvest and included “play parties,” which were public gatherings where neighbors would share stories of the dead, tell fortunes, dance, and sing. These gatherings were less about the supernatural and more about coming together as a community.
However, as millions of Irish immigrants arrived in America during the mid-19th century, fleeing the devastating potato famine, they brought with them their Halloween traditions. By the early 1900s, Halloween had taken on a more community-centered focus, with parties, games, and festivities replacing the fearsome tales of spirits and supernatural beings. In the 1920s and 1930s, Halloween parades and town celebrations became popular, and trick-or-treating started to gain popularity as a fun and friendly activity, especially for children.
By the 1950s, Halloween had become largely focused on the young, and trick-or-treating became widespread as communities sought to provide a safe, enjoyable way for children to celebrate. Today, Halloween is celebrated with costumes, candy, and decorations, making it a multibillion-dollar industry in the United States.
October as Family History Month
While Halloween is celebrated on October 31, the entire month is also recognized in the United States as Family History Month. This observance was established in 2001 as a way to encourage individuals to explore their ancestral roots, connect with family history, and document their heritage. Family History Month provides an opportunity to delve into genealogies, share family stories, and preserve historical records for future generations. It serves as a reminder that our personal histories are woven into the broader fabric of our cultural heritage—a concept that resonates deeply with Halloween’s roots in honoring the dead and recognizing our connection to those who came before us.
The juxtaposition of Halloween and Family History Month in October reminds us to honor and preserve our histories, whether through ancient traditions or through the retelling of family stories that shape who we are today. Together, they invite us to explore the past with a deeper sense of appreciation for the generations that have gone before us and left their mark on our lives.
So, while we may enjoy the costumes, parties, and candy, it’s worth taking a moment to remember the holiday’s origins—a blend of ancient Celtic beliefs and Christian observances that remind us of the thin line between life and death, and the hope that lies beyond it.
Learn more how you can honor your ancestors here: https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/family-history-month
Source: Origins and Traditions of Halloween, article from the History Channel Website, October 2003