The History of Halloween and the Monsters that Make it So Mysterious (Part One)
The month of October is jam-packed with some of the most popular celebrations and holidays, but none of them have quite the same lasting appeal as Halloween. Where did it come from? Why do we do what we do? And just how did that pumpkin get to be so darned symbolic? All will be revealed in this history of Halloween and the monsters that make it so mysterious.
This article is divided into two sections. In Part One, I give an overview of the history of Halloween and some of the traditions involved. And then in Part Two, I will delve into some of the lore behind these various legends including zombies, ghosts, vampires, and werewolves; exploring why they are so prevalent at this time of year even though they all stem from different cultures.
Introduction — Overview of Halloween
Actual Party Numbers
On sidewalks full of lights, horns, and flashes from cameras- witches, demons, devils, clowns, Draculas, and Frankenstein’s monsters all walked the walk.
Halloween at the end of this century has become a major party night for adults; arguably one of the most important nights after New Year’s Eve. Roughly 65% of American adults participate in Halloween — who are also dressed up in costumes (not just handing out candy). Approximately $1.5 billion is spent each year on these costumes alone — and then add another three billion dollars on party accessories!
A brief history of Halloween through times
Halloween derivatives from All Hallow Eve — the eve of All Saints’ Day on 1 November and together with All Soul’s Day, on 2 November, Christians gather to honor the saints and those who passed away before them, and in past centuries, people also prayed for the souls in purgatory. Yet because Halloween has become synonymous with everything supernatural — despite its original ties to Christianity — many believe the strong pagan roots are still just as present today even after the holiday’s subsequent Christianization.
It is typically believed that the Celtic festival of Samhain or Samuin (pronounced sow-an or sow-in), meaning summer’s end, is linked to the origins of Halloween. However, there is evidence to suggest that the feast of Samhain was actually a time of stock-taking and ingathering, of reorganizing communities for the winter months, including the preparation of quarters for itinerant warriors and shamans. Supernatural forces were said to be at work during this time, causing darkness and decay. To protect against these spirits, people built large bonfires and sacrificed animals (and possibly even people) to the gods.
In recent years, many films have taken the opportunity to look at this time of year through a sinister lens. And although there is no information about ancient Celtic rituals being mentioned in John Carpenter’s cult horror movie Halloween, it was referenced in the sequel Halloween 2. While searching for Michael Myers in a high school, someone accidentally wrote SAMHAIN on one of the walls (Fig. 1).
What set Samhain apart from other festivals was its placement somewhere in between the Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice, being a borderline festival. Its roots lie deep within Celtic lore, marking the boundary between Summer and Winter; Light and Darkness. From an anthropological perspective, it is called a liminal festival and regarded as a rite of passage- an act of transitioning from one point in life to another. It was a moment when the order of the universe is temporarily suspended, and charged with otherworldly power. This power will still echo in today’s Halloween festivities.
Halloween vs Day of the Dead
Halloween and the Day of the Dead have a common origin in the Christian commemoration of the dead on All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. However, both holidays are believed to embody strong pre-Christian beliefs. When it comes to Halloween, it’s important to note that the Celtic holiday of Samhain is essential for its pagan roots. This claim has come up again and again over recent years due to new-age enthusiasts as well as groups from the Evangelical Right. When it comes to The Day Of The Dead, commentators usually point out that it originated in traditions revolving around death and was closely associated with Central Mexico Nahuatl spoken people (Fig. 2) before Spanish colonization.
Halloween differs from the Day of the Dead (Fig. 3) in secularism and symbolism. Halloween has a secular side to it and lacks an explicit Christian reference to the souls in purgatory with which was first associated, unlike its counterpart.
Halloween & Pumpkins
Halloween still has some remnants of connections to the harvest. Its pumpkins and apples are part of the festive fare of harvest suppers and Thanksgiving dinners. More often than not, carved pumpkins and Halloween masks celebrate the grotesque and macabre, the weird and spooky.
Souling
Souling on Halloween, as know as Trick or Treat was a popular tradition where poor people would visit the homes of wealthier families and receive pastries called Soul Cakes in exchange for promising to pray for the Souls (ancestors) of the homeowners’ dead relatives. This practice then took off when children started doing it too — they’d go around asking for gifts such as food, money, and ale.
The ritual is still seen as an important expression of neighborhood solidarity in some neighborhoods, even as inner-city neighborhoods are gentrifying or crumbling and upscale neighborhoods are shielded from intruders. Many people continue to believe that Halloween costumes give children the opportunity to be imaginative, to let their imaginations run wild in a familiar environment, and perhaps to engage with the uncanny in a warm and safe environment. Halloween is currently the second most important party night in North America. It is second only to Christmas in terms of retail potential. This commercialism reinforces its importance as a time of public license, an individually determined opportunity to have fun. As one Washington journalist remarked, it is “a conduit for all of us to let off a little steam.”
Looking for your support
Keeping up this great tradition I’m looking forward to your support.
Throughout the next articles, I’m going to give a concise but detailed description of the different monsters you may run into. There will be a link available that provides even more information if you want to learn more about any specific monster.
If you’re looking for something special to use as an avatar this year, one way you can spice up your persona online is with one of these Halloween Monsters Limited Time Offer NFTs Collection “Every Monster has a beautiful side”. They are currently available in Opensea at reasonable prices and there’s even a secret surprise after purchase waiting just for you!
Which one are you going to choose?
(Available tomorrow)
History of Aliens
History of Zombies
History of Ghouls
History of Ghosts
History of Mummies
History of Vampires
History of Werewolves
History of Witches
