We explain what Halloween is, what its characteristics are and what its origin is. Also, what are the symbols that represent it.
What is Halloween?
Halloween (also known as Witches’ Night) is a popular festival that is celebrated every year on the night of October 31, on the eve of the Christian holiday of All Saints’ Day. This celebration involves sinister or horror costumes and decorations, linked to the world of the dead, witches, spirits and other terrifying beings.
It is a holiday that is especially popular in Anglo-Saxon countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Canada. In recent years, it has also become popular in Spain and some Latin American countries. You must read about Star of David once.
Halloween celebrations often include costumes and parties. In some countries, trick-or-treating is practiced: children dress up and go door-to-door asking for candy. The phrase trick or treat translates as “trick or treat,” and represents the choice that homeowners have: offer candy to children or face the possibility of a “trick” (a joke or prank).
In other countries, celebrations maintain religious tradition and are linked to ceremonial practices, such as carrying candles to the graves of the deceased or abstaining from eating certain foods.
Where does the name Halloween come from?
The name of this celebration is the contraction of All Hallows’ Evening, that is, “the eve of all saints,” since it is celebrated on the night before All Saints’ Day, according to the calendar of the Western Christian Church.
KEY POINTS
- Halloween is also known as Noche de Brujas (Halloween Night) and is celebrated every year on October 31, on the eve of All Saints’ Day.
- The tradition of trick-or-treating involves children dressed up in costumes going around their neighborhoods and asking for candy from door to door.
- The origin of Halloween is related to the Celtic celebration of Samhain, in which it was believed that the spirits of the dead could return to the world of the living during that night.
- Among the most representative symbols of Halloween are carved pumpkins, bats, witches and skeletons, which evoke a spooky and festive atmosphere.
Characteristics of Halloween
The main characteristics of Halloween celebrations are:
- Costumes: People, especially children, dress up as creepy or funny characters, such as witches, ghosts or superheroes.
- Decorations: Houses and streets are decorated with carved pumpkins, spider webs, skeletons and other symbols associated with terror and the supernatural.
- Trick-or-treating: Children go door to door asking for candy with the phrase “trick or treat.”
- Events and parties: Themed parties, horror movie screenings and activities such as visits to haunted houses and costume contests are organized.
- Scary theme: Halloween revolves around the macabre and the mysterious, highlighting elements related to death, spirits and the supernatural.
Origin of Halloween
The origin of this celebration is uncertain, but many scholars maintain that it dates back to the tradition of the Celtic cultures of Great Britain and Ireland. At the celebration of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season, the Celts said goodbye to Lugh, the god of the Sun, and believed that in his absence the dead could briefly return to Earth. To protect themselves from these spirits, bonfires were lit and sacrifices were offered.
With the expansion of Christianity, the Catholic Church attempted to replace pagan festivals with Christian celebrations. November 1 was instituted as All Saints’ Day, and the night before, October 31, became known as All Hallows’ Eve, which over time became Halloween.
Over the centuries, features of other cultural traditions were incorporated, such as the custom of making masks or preparing sweets. With the colonization of America, European immigrants, especially the Irish and Scottish, continued this practice, which began to transform into a more communal and festive celebration.
In the second half of the 20th century in the United States, Halloween became a holiday centered on entertainment, with an emphasis on costumes, decorations, and trick-or-treating. Maybe you should definitely read about Torah once.
Symbols of Halloween
Today, the Halloween holiday is associated with different symbols. Many of them come from medieval tradition, while others were incorporated in recent times.
The main symbols of Halloween are:
- Pumpkins: Carved pumpkins, known as jack-o’-lanterns, are one of the most emblematic icons of Halloween. They are hollowed out, carved with creepy or funny faces, and lit from within with a candle.
- Bats, spiders, and cobwebs: These elements are used in Halloween decorations because they represent the night, the dark, and the old. Bats are also associated with the figure of Dracula.
- Witches and black cats: Witches, with their pointed hats and brooms, symbolize magic and mysticism, as well as ancient beliefs about witchcraft. Their inclusion in the Halloween imagery has to do with their connection to the supernatural and the possibility of connecting with spirits, demons, and the afterlife.
- Scarecrows: They are used in Halloween decorations because they evoke a spooky aesthetic and have roots in agricultural traditions, symbolizing the protection of crops. In addition, their disturbing appearance and connection to folklore make them a popular element that complements other symbols of the holiday.
- Skulls, skeletons, and ghosts: As in other All Saints’ Day celebrations, skulls, skeletons, and ghosts are present in their most conventional representation on Halloween, as emblems of the spirits that roam free throughout that night.
