Halloween, origins & traditions

Illuminated pumpkins, scary disguises, treats... Halloween is certainly the most celebrated pagan holiday in the world.

Do you know its origin and that of its mysterious traditions ?

Celebrated on October 31, the eve of the Christian festival of All Saints' Day, Halloween has its origins in the pagan Celtic festival of Samhain which was celebrated on the same date by the Druids, 300 years BC. This celebration constituted for them a sort of New Year ritual, their calendar starting on this date. They then celebrated the end of summer, the return of winter and the feast of the dead. The Druids moved from home to home asking for offerings while uttering curses, hence the famous Halloween saying: “Trick or Treat” literally “Present or Curse”. To light their way, they carried turnips hollowed out and cut into the shape of faces in which a candle burned…

Coincidence of the calendar? It was not until much later, in the year 840, that Pope Gregory IV established All Saints Day declaring that November 1st and the day before would be devoted to the celebration of the dead. Hence the name Halloween comes from the Celtic expression “Allhallowmas” which translates as: the eve of all that is holy.

Very popular in Ireland, Scotland and Wales, Halloween was introduced to North America in the 1920s by Irish and Scottish emigrants fleeing famine.

Well-established traditions

Now mainly celebrated in English-speaking countries such as Ireland, Great Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, Halloween is still celebrated around the world with various traditions.

Pumpkins & legend of Jack-o'-lantern.

Everywhere around the houses we see hollowed out pumpkins blooming lit by candles. The Irish are at the origin of this tradition resulting from the legend of Jack-o'-lantern: "spirit condemned to wander the Earth because he could not enter Paradise because of the avarice he had shown during his life, nor in Hell because of the tricks he had played on the devil.

Legend has it that the devil to console him gave him a burning coal which he then slipped into a turnip to light his way, just like the Celtic druids in their time. Turnip which was replaced in America by pumpkins, more local and easy to carve.

Scary costumes and treats

Modern tradition also wants children to dress up in grimacing ghost or witch costumes and go knock on doors asking for treats with the famous historical formula “Trick or treat” which has spanned the centuries after being used more than a year ago. 2000 years old by the Celtic Druids.