Halloween also known as All Hollow’s Eve is a time for costumes, candy, Jack-O-Lanterns, bon fires, parties, and much more. Every year on October 31, children and adults all around the world dress up in their cute and ugly costumes. It is a great time to have safe fun and pretend to be someone or something you’re not for one night. The origin of Halloween began with the Celtic festival of Samhain, long before Christianity. November 1 was considered by them to be the ‘day of death’, because the leaves began to wilt and fall, temperatures began to drop, and it started to get darker outside sooner than normal. Also believed was that on October 31, Samhain, the lord of death, gathered the spirits of all who died that year. These spirits were confined to an animal’s body for the year as punishment for their evil deeds, and on the eve of October 31 they were released and given permission to return to their previous home to visit the living. Druid priests began to round people up and take them to worship ceremonies where they would bring offerings such as, animals, human beings, and other ‘things’ to be stuffed into a wicker cage and burned to death. This was done to satisfy Samhain and they believed it would keep spirits from harming them in any way. Those who brought offerings were promised prosperity by Druid priests, if you refused, you were cursed. 

So where did ‘Trick or Treat’ really come from? Well, on the night on Halloween, if you left a treat out for the hungry spirits, they would not trick or haunt you. Giving out candy on this night is in essence providing an offering to the false gods. All though this night has been said to be a myth, many still believe.

The Jack-O-Lantern began with an old Irish myth about a guy named Stingy Jack (go figure that one). Jack was a blacksmith, a drunk, and unfortunately somehow ended up running into the devil in a pub. Jack, unaware of who this was invited the devil to have a drink with him. Jack was a cheapskate and convinced the devil to pay for his drink in exchange for Jack’s soul. Jack had a silver cross in his pocket, and was able to free the devil. The devil would not bother Jack or take his soul for ten years. At the end of the ten years Jack was walking down a country road and ran into the devil yet once again. As the devil tried to claim what belonged to him, Jack wanted the devil to climb the apple tree and get him an apple. As the devil was high into the tree, Jack carved a cross into the bark of the tree to prevent the devil from being able to come down (this Jack is a tricky guy). Jack made the devil promise not to take his soul or bother him again. Jack died soon after that, but God wouldn’t allow him into heaven, and the devil wouldn’t allow him into hell without his soul. So when Jack asked the devil where he should go the devil told him to go back where he came from. The way back was dark and cold and Jack asked the devil to please give him some light. The devil gave him a hot, burning piece of coal from the fire of hell for light. Jack carved a hole into a turnip and put the piece of coal inside. Ever since then Jack has been roaming the earth, and the Irish began to refer to Jack’s ghost as Jack of the Lantern. 

Halloween costumes originated around the same time, and were believed that if people dressed up that they would not be recognized by evil spirits. Villagers would run around outside making loud noises, and being very destructive in order to scare away any spirits. There are many stories to Halloween, and it is a spooky night for everyone. Enjoy yourselves, and be careful. Watch out for the scary ghosts and goblins! 

Have a very Happy Halloween, from all of your friends at RSS Pieces!

READ ALSO: The One Source for all Things Halloween

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