Author: Peg Aloi
Posted: October 1st. 1996
Times Viewed: 273,526
Hallowe'en
has its origins in the British Isles. While the modern tradition of
trick or treat developed in the U. S., it too is based on folk customs
brought to this country with Irish immigrants after 1840. Since ancient
times in Ireland, Scotland, and England, October 31st has been
celebrated as a feast for the dead, and also the day that marks the new
year. Mexico observes a Day of the Dead on this day, as do other world
cultures. In Scotland, the Gaelic word "Samhain" (pronounced "SAW-win"
or "SAW-vane") means literally "summer's end."
This
holiday is also known as All Hallows Eve ("hallow" means "sanctify") ;
Hallowtide; Hallowmass; Hallows; The Day of the Dead; All Soul's Night;
All Saints' Day (both on November 1st) .
For
early Europeans, this time of the year marked the beginning of the
cold, lean months to come; the flocks were brought in from the fields to
live in sheds until spring. Some animals were slaughtered, and the meat
preserved to provide food for winter. The last gathering of crops was
known as "Harvest Home, " celebrated with fairs and festivals.
In
addition to its agriculture significance, the ancient Celts also saw
Samhain as a very spiritual time. Because October 31 lies exactly
between the Autumnal Equinox and the Winter Solstice, it is theorized
that ancient peoples, with their reliance on astrology, thought it was a
very potent time for magic and communion with spirits. The "veil
between the worlds" of the living and the dead was said to be at its
thinnest on this day; so the dead were invited to return to feast with
their loved ones; welcomed in from the cold, much as the animals were
brought inside. Ancient customs range from placing food out for dead
ancestors, to performing rituals for communicating with those who had
passed over.
Communion
with the dead was thought to be the work of witches and sorcerers,
although the common folk thought nothing of it. Because the rise of the
Church led to growing suspicion of the pagan ways of country dwellers,
Samhain also became associated with witches, black cats ("familiars" or
animal friends) , bats (night creatures) , ghosts and other "spooky"
things...the stereotype of the old hag riding the broomstick is simply a
caricature; fairy tales have exploited this image for centuries.
Divination
of the future was also commonly practiced at this magically-potent
time; since it was also the Celtic New Year, people focused on their
desires for the coming year. Certain traditions, such as bobbing for
apples, roasting nuts in the fire, and baking cakes which contained
tokens of luck, are actually ancient methods of telling fortunes.
So What About Those Jack-O-Lanterns?
Other
old traditions have survived to this day; lanterns carved out of
pumpkins and turnips were used to provide light on a night when huge
bonfires were lit, and all households let their fires go out so they
could be rekindled from this new fire; this was believed to be good luck
for all households. The name "Jack-O-Lantern" means "Jack of the
Lantern, " and comes from an old Irish tale. Jack was a man who could
enter neither heaven nor hell and was condemned to wander through the
night with only a candle in a turnip for light. Or so goes the legend...
But
such folk names were commonly given to nature spirits, like the "Jack
in the Green, " or to plants believed to possess magical properties,
like "John O' Dreams, " or "Jack in the Pulpit." Irish fairy lore is
full of such references. Since candles placed in hollowed-out pumpkins
or turnips (commonly grown for food and abundant at this time of year)
would produce flickering flames, especially on cold nights in October,
this phenomenon may have led to the association of spirits with the
lanterns; and this in turn may have led to the tradition of carving
scary faces on them. It is an old legend that candle flames which
flicker on Samhain night are being touched by the spirits of dead
ancestors, or "ghosts."
Okay, What about the Candy?
"Trick
or treat" as it is practiced in the U. S. is a complex custom believed
to derive from several Samhain traditions, as well as being unique to
this country. Since Irish immigrants were predominantly Catholic, they
were more likely to observe All Soul's Day. But Ireland's folk
traditions die hard, and the old ways of Samhain were remembered. The
old tradition of going door to door asking for donations of money or
food for the New Year's feast, was carried over to the U. S. from the
British Isles. Hogmanay was celebrated January 1st in rural Scotland,
and there are records of a "trick or treat" type of custom; curses would
be invoked on those who did not give generously; while those who did
give from their hearts were blessed and praised. Hence, the notion of
"trick or treat" was born (although this greeting was not commonly used
until the 1930's in the U. S.) . The wearing of costumes is an ancient
practice; villagers would dress as ghosts, to escort the spirits of the
dead to the outskirts of the town, at the end of the night's
celebration.
By
the 1920's, "trick or treat" became a way of letting off steam for
those urban poor living in crowded conditions. Innocent acts of
vandalism (soaping windows, etc.) gave way to violent, cruel acts.
Organizations like the Boy Scouts tried to organize ways for this
holiday to become safe and fun; they started the practice of encouraging
"good" children to visit shops and homes asking for treats, so as to
prevent criminal acts. These "beggar's nights" became very popular and
have evolved to what we know as Hallowe'en today.
What Do Modern Witches Do at Hallowe'en?
It
is an important holiday for us. Witches are diverse, and practice a
variety of traditions. Many of us use this time to practice forms of
divination (such as tarot or runes) . Many Witches also perform rituals
to honor the dead; and may invite their deceased loved ones to visit for
a time, if they choose. This is not a "seance" in the usual sense of
the word; Witches extend an invitation, rather than summoning the dead,
and we believe the world of the dead is very close to this one. So on
Samhain, and again on Beltane (May 1st) , when the veil between the
worlds is thin, we attempt to travel between those worlds. This is done
through meditation, visualization, and astral projection. Because
Witches acknowledge human existence as part of a cycle of life, death
and rebirth, Samhain is a time to reflect on our mortality, and to
confront our fears of dying.
Some
Witches look on Samhain as a time to prepare for the long, dark months
of winter, a time of introspection and drawing inward. They may bid
goodbye to the summer with one last celebratory rite. They may have
harvest feasts, with vegetables and fruits they have grown, or
home-brewed cider or mead. They may give thanks for what they have,
projecting for abundance through the winter. Still others may celebrate
with costume parties, enjoying treats and good times with friends. There
are as many ways of observing Samhain as there are Witches in the
world!
Peg Aloi
Bio::
Born 10/23/63, Peg is a freelance writer and artists' model, and a
Witch of Celtic/Sicilian heritage. She has taught classes in film,
literature, writing, herbalism, and calligraphy, and is also a singer,
actress, astrologer and perfumer (gotta love that Libra/Scorpio cusp) .
As a performer, she has made music with a number of Pagan artists,
including MotherTongue (tm) , Urban Myth, and bard Olvardil Prydwyn. She
reviews films for the Boston Phoenix, and is Associate Editor of
Obsidian Magazine. She loves single malt scotch, apple orchards, Xena,
Jethro Tull, and her three grey kitties, Ziggy, Zeus and Trivia.
