- The Romans had a festival for the goddess Pomona, who was the harvest goddess. The apple was associated with her. Another festival was called Feralia. It was in late October and marked the passing of the dead.
- The eerie aspects were influenced by the Celtic festival of Samhaim (“summer’s end”) celebrated in Ireland (considered the birthplace of Halloween), England, and northern France. It was held around the first of November and marked the final day of harvesting and the beginning of the “dark” part of the year. It was believed that on that day the border between the real world and the spirit world was blurred and spirits could come to Earth. Bonfires were lit for protection and people wore costumes to scare off the spirits. People put out treats for the spirits.
- In Ireland and Scotland, a tradition called “guising” developed. People would dress in costumes and go to homes asking for food and money in exchange for songs, poems, and “tricks”. This was similar to the practice called “souling” where on Hallowmas (November 1), the poor would go door to door praying for the dead and be given “soul cakes”.
- In the 8th Century, Pope Gregory III created All Saints’ Day and as was common, the Church coopted the pagan feasts days of Feralia and Pomona. He placed the holiday on Nov. 1. It was believed that departed souls roamed the Earth until that day and on All Hallow’s Eve, they searched for enemies. People began to wear costumes and masks to hide their identities.
- Ireland had the tale of Stingy Jack. Jack tricked the Devil so he was not allowed in Hell and Heaven didn’t want him because of his reputation for deceit. He was forced to roam Earth with a lantern, hence Jack of the Lantern. The original jack-o-lanterns were turnips. It was Americans who shifted it to pumpkins. Jack used his lantern to lure nighttime travelers away from their path. Halloween pranksters carried the jack-o-lanterns to either represent the dead spirits or to ward them off.
- In the 18th Century, young women believed Halloween was a good time to get a prediction about their future mate. One superstition was to throw apple peels over their shoulder to reveal the initials of their future husband. Holding up a candle in a dark room in front of a mirror would reveal the image of their husband. Bobbing for apples was a competition to see who would be married first.
- Halloween had lost popularity in America, but then the potato famine brought an influx of Irish immigrants and they brought a strong affinity for Halloween. Originally, it was just the trick part as pranksters tipped over outhouses, opened farmers’ livestock gates, or egging houses. In the cities, it took the form of vandalism. City fathers were looking for a way to reduce the property damage, so they encouraged the dressing up and asking for treats part. “Trick or treating” became popular during World War II and the candy companies quickly picked up on this and pushed the holiday.
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/halloween-ideas/a35150/halloween-facts/
https://www.factretriever.com/halloween-facts
https://www.10best.com/interests/festivals-events/10-fun-facts-you-didnt-know-about-halloween/
https://www.livescience.com/40596-history-of-halloween.html
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