History of Halloween

Bryce Ford

Halloween first started with an ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. During the festival people would dress as evil spirits to trick them so they wouldn’t be harmed by the spirits. They thought on this day spirits can come to Earth.   

Then later Pope Boniface IV made a holiday honouring saints on Nov. 1. Later the church made Nov. 2 All Souls day.

All Souls Day was a time for parades bonfires and dressing up much like the traditions of Samhain. The actual word Halloween came from All-Hallows Eve which was the night before and on the same day as Samhain.

When Halloween first came to America was much more common in southern colonies than the northern ones because of the north’s protestant majority. In the beginning, people had play parties. The play parties were filled with dancing and ghost stories. But halloween really took off when an increase of Irish came in the 1900s. The helped spread the celebration throughout the country. Then it later grew and people dressed up and started trick or treating.  

The most treasured tradition handing out candy also come from the Irish. At first people would ask for money or food. Sometimes even poor adults would dress up and ask for food. These traditions later grew into the trick or treating we have today.

Halloween is an exciting holiday filled with magic and deception. The holiday has a long and rich history. So when you’re putting your costume on or knocking on doors you will know exactly the events that made Halloween, Halloween.

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