Halloween is one of the oldest holidays celebrated on October 31st every year in the U.S. On that day, people dress up in costumes and attend parties. Also, people trick-or-treat with children.
Today, some Christians believe that Halloween shouldn’t be celebrated, arguing that this festivity is a pagan holiday during which the devil is worshiped, and evil is glorified. Other Christians disagree, claiming that Halloween is a fun, safe occasion for kids to dress up, get tons of candy, and have a good time.
But what’s the History of Halloween?
Halloween has its roots in the ancient Celtic Irish Festival of Samhain, marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. At Samhain, it was believed that the barrier separating this world and the otherworld was most permeable, allowing spirits to pass through.
People wore costumes and masks to protect themselves and be differentiated from evil spirits. Their intention was to remain anonymous in a frightening manner that suggested concepts like ghosts, witches, pumpkins, black cats, and the moon.
The festival included a lot of food and bonfires. Households’ fires were put out and then restarted from the bonfire, using the bones of the murdered animals as fuel.
Food was prepared for both the living and the dead, and it was ritually shared with the less fortunate. Traditional food for Halloween was seasonal food such as potatoes, pumpkin, kale, cabbage, leeks, and raw onions.
When Irish immigrants arrived in the U.S. around 1800, they brought their tradition of Samhain with them, which later became Halloween.
On Halloween, Irish immigrants would dress up, play practical jokes on their neighbors, and ask for food and cash. Eventually, trick-or-treating, as we now know it, originated when Americans adopted the practice.
How has the way people celebrated Halloween changed in modern times?
Halloween has evolved over time, due to technology, the expansion of cities, the pandemic, and attitude towards enjoying holidays as a community.
This holiday used to be a time in which people connected with nature, socialized with other communities, did practical pranks, prepared their own treats, and fabricated their own costumes.
In present times, due to safety concerns, people have stopped making their own candies, costumes, and practical pranks. People prefer to buy candies and costumes while staying at home, filming, and taking pictures of what they do on the night of Halloween to post them later on social media. As a result, people have lost their connection with nature and they have diminished the celebration of Halloween to almost nothing. Some people are forgetting about the spirit of Halloween.
What do some students at Old Westbury College think about the celebration of Halloween?
This are some student’s opinions about Halloween:
Jonathan: “I think Halloween is just a good time for people to hang out and have fun despite being pagan.”
Nancy: “Halloween is a holiday for young ones, family and friends to get together whether that’s parties/get together or merely by going trick or treating.”
Nick: “Today, Halloween is a business-driven holiday. It is a waste of time to celebrate it.”
