History Of Halloween Essay

Halloween Past and Present

Ghouls, ghosts, trick or treating, Halloween, a holiday we are all familiar with. Halloween has been around for quite some time. It all started during the ancient Roman times and is still celebrated all around the world today. The rituals of Halloween have changed drastically throughout the years and still continue to change every so often. In today’s world many people don’t even know how Halloween started, what the rituals were, or why it is even celebrated.

During the ancient Roman times, festivals took place all throughout the year. “From the time of the ancient Celts, who lived in England thousands of years ago, there has always been some kind of celebration around the time we now celebrate as Halloween”

The holiday was originally celebrated on February but later on was moved to November 1st. During the Celtic times, November 1st was their new year. The date marked the end of summer and their harvest season. With the ending of summer, this date which meant the brutal winter season arrived. November 1st is also a church holiday known as All Saints Day. “The day is dedicated to the saints of the Church, that is, all those who have attained heaven” (Catholic Online). The evening before All Saints Day was called All Hallows Eve, which was October 31st. Every year there was an annual church service performed called All Hallow e’en. “Another way to say All Saint's was All Hallows because the term "hallows" means "holy people”

Today’s society certainly doesn’t celebrate Halloween for the same reasons as it used to be celebrated. During the ancient times it was a day to rid of the evil spirits and scare them away. It was not a day for fun, and definitely not a day for trick or treating. When people thought of Halloween, they thought of the end of their summer, the end of their harvest, and the start of the dark winter. Individuals thought of this day as a spirit filled day. People didn’t dress in costumes for amusement; they dressed in them to shock away evil spirits. Throughout time, costumes have changed to silly, not as grueling costumes. People now dress up as their favorite super heroes, fruits, or even whoopee cushions. Halloween is mostly for laughs and entertainment now. Halloween is all about the candy for the little ones and getting to roam around the neighborhood. For the adults, it’s a great excuse to get drunk. In the present day, Halloween represents a spooky, but fun filled day. Halloween now is all about the candy corn, cartoon ghosts, and cute frilly pumpkins. This day is mostly for the kids, and the fun of getting to dress up in something that would normally not be acceptable on a normal day. As the crowds of people roam around the neighborhoods, kids belt out the famous lines “Trick or Treat!” People no longer use jack o lanterns to guide spirits to the food left out for them. Jack-o-lanterns are now carved