Halloween is one of the oldest and most popular holidays still celebrated, second only to Christmas. Most people view Halloween as a time for wearing costumes, trick-or-treating or holding bonfires. Others view it as a time of superstitions, ghosts and evil spirits. Although Halloween is often celebrated with no reference to pagan rituals or the occult, there are some Christians who view it as an evil holiday and refrain from acknowledging it.
Surprisingly, millions of people around the world celebrate Halloween without knowing its origins or understanding its connection to spirit contact. Read on to learn how three ancient rituals evolved and contributed to the Halloween customs we know today.
Festival Samhain
The festival of Samhain is a Celtic celebration held annually on October 31st and intended to honor the god of the dead. On that date, the Celts believed the worlds of the living and the dead overlapped as the deceased came back to life. Good spirits returned to visit living loved ones in a joyous reunion while evil spirits returned to bring sickness and damage to crops.
Fearing sinister spirits, people wore costumes and masks to hide their identity. The common belief was the spirits of loved ones would recognize them from behind their masks while evil spirits would be unable to confirm their identity and not attempt to make contact. Gifts and treats were left out to pacify evil spirits. This custom evolved into the trick-or-treating we know today.
Day of the Dead
Day of the Dead is a festival which began several centuries ago with the Aztecs and was intended to honor the goddess Mictecacihuatl, who ruled the dead. During this ceremony the Aztec people danced around bonfires, feasted and praised Mictecacihuatl for protecting the souls of loved ones who had passed into her realm.
It was said that the spirits of the departed could be felt reveling alongside their living relatives while the bonfires were believed to attract bats, which continue to be a symbol of Halloween in today's culture.
All Hallow's Eve
The Catholic church has encouraged spirit contact for several centuries and has a strong connection to the celebration of Halloween. In 835, Pope Gregory IV decreed that the Catholic Church would recognize October 31st as All Hallow's Eve. On that date Catholics were asked to gather and praise those who had given their lives in the name of their faith. The next day, November 1, became known as All Soul's Day and was designated as a time to pray for the souls of those who had passed on. The Catholic Church has always viewed this celebration as a way to honor the connection between the souls of the living and the souls of the departed.
This year on October 31st, take a few minutes and try connecting to the spirits around you. You may sense an unusual energy or a presence you are typically not aware of. It could be the spirit of a beloved friend or family member sensing your awareness and attempting to make contact.
Sources:
- Ruth Edna Kelley, The Book of Halloween, Forgotten Books, February 2008.
- Jean Markale, The Pagan Mysteries of Halloween: Celebrating the Dark Half of the Year, Inner Traditions, August 2001.
- Lesley Bannatyne, Halloween: An American Holiday, An American History, Pelican Publishing, August 1998.
Danielle McGinnis - Danielle McGinnis is the mother of a college freshman and full-time freelance writer.
