Features

Pre-Christian Europeans held four major festivals each year.

One was on 31st October - they called it Samhain.  In a world dominated by the seasons, Samhain marked the end of the agricultural year and the onset of winter.

It was believed that on that night the mortal world and the spirit world were closely linked.  Close enough to allow the souls of the dead to return to earth in search of the warmth and light of their former lives.

Bonfires were lit to offer heat and strength to the sun for the coming winter, whilst keeping away any mischevious spirits who might otherwise have delighted in causing fright!  It was also an excuse for a big party.

In England, turnips were hollowed out and made into lanterns with faces - to scare away any troublemakers from the spirit world.

This tradition crossed the Atlantic to North America, where Pumpkins were used as lanterns, intended to guide the spirits to a place where a portion of the festival meal would be left for them. The early Christian church soon realised that since the pagan festivals were enjoyed so much by the majority they would not be abolished easily.

Instead, they were adopted into the Christian calendar, usually with some adaptation. In the 8th century Pope Gregory III moved the date of All Soul's Day from May 13th to November 1st. Over the following years, the festivals merged and the day before All Soul's Day became All Hallows Eve.

The pagan elements of the festival received bad press from the Church, who regarded Samhain to be nothing more than an excuse for non-Christians to make trouble. The event was 'played down' and eventually reduced to an evening of pranks when children would dress up and play games.

Poor Guy

In 1604 Guy Fawkes may have failed in his plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament, but he unwittingly provided Britain with an excuse to hold a bonfire festival on 5th November, blurring the old pagan roots of the existing bonfire tradition at that time of year.

Pagan religions have enjoyed a revival in recent years and the fire festival of Samhain is still practiced in its pre-Halloween form by pagan groups around the world, many of whom see it as their New Year's Eve.

The tradition of 'apple bobbing' is thought to be a Roman addition.  The Roman Goddess of fruit, celebrated in October, was called Pomona. Her symbol was an apple.

Halloween has become particularly popular in America, and British children have, in recent years, adopted what is commonly thought to be an American tradition of dressing in ghoulish costumes and going out to 'trick or treat', playing tricks on their neighbours unless they are given a treat, usually of sweets. 

Trick or treating may, however, have come full circle - having originated in Europe where people knocked on doors offering to pray for dead relatives in exchange for cakes.  Perhaps like the supposed barrier between this and the 'other' world, the history of Halloween will remain a little blurred!