Let’s admit it. We all love a holiday that allows us to get showered with delicious treats and goodies, even if we don’t know the meaning of the tradition. I’m sure you’ve dressed up in your younger years to go trick or treating, and have probably gone on to dress your own kids up for Hallowe’en  – but have you ever stopped to think about its meaning? Where did it come from? What does it celebrate?  If you’re just a little bit curious then read on to hear some frighteningly fun facts about Hallowe’en.

What is Hallowe’en?

Hallowe’en is a contraction of its original title, “All Hallows Evening” – an annual holiday observed around the world on 31 October. The world “hallow” means “holy” or “to treat as sacred’ and “e’en” is Gaelic for “evening”. Therefore, the meaning of Hallowe’en is “holy or scared evening”. Although thought to originate in Ireland, it is also said to be the modern tradition of the ancient fire festival, Samhain. This festival was the feast of the dead in ancient and Christian times and marked the celebration of the upcoming harvest.

Trick or Treating

Although today’s custom of trick or treating (known as “guising” in Ireland) involves children in costumes going from house to house asking for treats, without which they play a prank, it originally was something quite different. In previous years, the person asking for a treat would have to do something to entertain or please the treat giver by doing something such as singing or reciting a poem.  It’s interesting to note that the custom dates all the way back to the Middles Ages. It resembles a late medieval practise called “Souling” where poor people would go from door to door receiving food in return for prayers for the dead on All Soul’s Day (2 November). This practise originated in Ireland and Britain, but similar practises spread as far south as Italy. Even Shakespeare mentions the practise in his comedy in 1593, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, where Speed accuses his master of “puling (whimpering) like a beggar at Hallowmas”.

Where did Jack o’ Lanterns come from?

An 18th century Irish legend speaks about a man called Stingy Jack who was too mean to get into heaven and had played too many tricks on the devil to go to hell. When he died, he was forced to walk the earth with a lantern made out of a turnip, and he became known as the “Jack of the Lantern” or “Jack o’ Lantern”. Due to this legend, an Irish tradition ensued which involved the placing of lanterns made of turnips in windows and doors on Hallowe’en, in order to scare away Stingy Jack and any other spirits walking the earth on that night. When the tradition was brought to the United States by immigrants in the late 1800s, pumpkins were used instead of turnips because they were more widespread– and much easier to carve.

Popular Hallowe’en Games

There are a variety of popular games associated with Hallowe’en parties. The most common is Apple-Bobbing (called “Dooking” in Scotland). This game is played by floating an apple in a large tub of water, where participants play by trying to remove the apple from the tub with their teeth. Other games date further back and include forms of divination. For example, a traditional Scottish game involved discovering the face or name of a future spouse: One would carve an apple peel into a long strip and throw it over their shoulder, where it would land in the shape of the first letter of their future spouse’s name. A similar game was played by unmarried girls who believed that if they sat in a dark room and stared into a mirror on Hallowe’en, the face of their future husband would appear. More modern entertainment involves the telling of ghost stories, watching horror films, and visiting haunted attractions on Hallowe’en.

Haunted Attractions

These are entertainment venues designed to thrill or scare the people who enter. Most of these attractions are seasonal businesses, only arising around Hallowe’en. Some examples of these attractions include haunted houses, corn mazes, and hayrides. Interestingly, haunted attractions in the United States bring in about $300 – 500 million, and draw over 400 000 customers a year! This growth has led to advanced special effects and costuming which are comparable to Hollywood films.

Hallowe’en Food Facts

A popular Irish tradition involves baking or purchasing “Barmbracks” (Bairin Breac), which are light fruitcakes with a ring or coin baked inside. It’s believed that whoever gets the piece of bread with the ring or coin will find their love in the following year. Today, popular treats include novelty sweets in the shape of skulls, pumpkins, bats, and worms etc.

Hallowe’en Costumes

The costumes worn on Hallowe’en generally include monsters, ghosts, witches, skeletons, and devils – just about anything scary. However, over time, costumes have started to include anything from popular fictional characters and celebrities to ninjas and princesses.

Hallowe’en Customs

In Mexico and Spain, Hallowe’en is a national holiday also known as “Los Dias de los Muertos” (“The Day of the Dead”). At this time of the year, the Monarch butterflies return to Mexico and are believed to bear the spirits of the dead, who are warmly welcomed. Families come together to set up altars with sugar skulls, marigolds, favourite food items and possessions of the deceased, and light all-night burning candles. In Sweden, “Alla Helgons Dag” (All Saint’s Day) is celebrated between 31 October and 6 November. They celebrate with choir concerts in churches and by lighting candles at the graves of loved ones. Not everyone celebrates Hallowe’en by honouring the dead. In France, Hallowe’en, pronounced “ah-lo-een” is seen as an American holiday and was virtually unknown until 1996.

Did you know?

• About 99% of pumpkins sold around Hallowe’en are used as Jack O’ Lanterns.
• If your pumpkin lantern shrivels up, you can restore it by soaking it in water overnight.
• ‘Samhainophobia’ is the fear of Hallowe’en.
• The word “witch” comes from the Old English word, “wicce”, meaning “wise woman.” At one time, witches were highly respected people, and according to popular belief, witches hold one of their two main meetings on Hallowe’en night.
• Black and orange are typically associated with Hallowe’en. Orange represents strength and endurance, while black symbolises death and darkness – acting as a reminder that Hallowe’en was once a festival that marked the border between life and death.
• Hallowe’en is thought to have originated around 4,000 B.C., which means that it has been around for over 6,000 years!
• Hallowe’en is the second most commercially successful holiday world-wide, after Christmas.

How do you plan on celebrating Hallowe’en this year?

Main Image courtesy Wikipedia