History of Halloween

Long ago, it was believed that on October 31, now known as Halloween, the boundary between the living and the dead dissolved, and the dead became dangerous for the living by causing problems such as sickness, damaged crops, and even death. The festivals would frequently involve bonfires, where the bones of slaughtered livestock were thrown in an attempt to kill any sickness. Costumes and masks were also worn at the festivals in an attempt to mimic the evil spirits or appease them.

The term Halloween (and its alternative rendering Hallowe'en) is shortened from All-hallow-even, as it is the eve of "All Hallows' Day", which is now also known as "All Saints Day". Although All Saints' Day is now considered to occur one day after Halloween, the two holidays use to be celebrated on the same day.

The carved pumpkin, lit by a candle inside, is one of Halloween's most prominent symbols in America. Originating in Europe, these lanterns were first carved from a turnip or rutabaga. Believing that the head was the most powerful part of the body containing the spirit and the knowledge, the Celts used the "head" of the vegetable to frighten off any spirits. The name jack-o'-lantern can be traced back to the Irish legend of Stingy Jack, a greedy, gambling, hard-drinking old farmer. He tricked the devil into climbing a tree and trapped him by carving a cross into the tree trunk. In revenge, the devil placed a curse on Jack, condemning him to forever wander the earth at night with the only light he had: a candle inside of a hollowed turnip. The carving of pumpkins is associated with Halloween in North America, where pumpkins were readily available and much larger, making them easier to carve than turnips. The carved pumpkin was originally associated with harvest time in general in America and did not become specifically associated with Halloween until the mid-to-late 19th century.