Hello, my name is Tanner K., and I wrote this article to tell you about how Halloween became the holiday it is today.
Halloween traditions in the Western world trace back to the ancient festival of Samhain, or the Celtic New Year, which signified the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. The Celts believed that during this time, spirits of the dead could roam the earth, and bonfires were lit to signal the festivities.
As Christianity spread, many pagan customs were altered, with Samhain evolving to include Christian elements. By the 16th century, the practice of “souling” emerged, where poor people would ask for soul-cakes in exchange for prayers.
When British settlers arrived in North America, they brought these traditions with them. The tale of Stingy Jack from Irish folklore inspired the jack-o’-lantern, originally made from turnips before the Irish in America switched to pumpkins for easier carving.
Halloween’s modern form began to take shape in the 1950s, focusing on community celebrations and trick-or-treating for candy. Today, it is primarily a secular holiday, popular around the world, and a significant event for businesses in the candy and entertainment sectors.
Sources: World History Encyclopedia