The roots of All Hollow’s Eve – Annenberg Media

Do *you* know the origins of Halloween? We asked some USC students and here’s what they said.

Braxton: It was probably something like superstition or something. If I had to guess. Like people, like, Believe in Ghosts and stuff like that. So they just made a holiday of it.

Jessica: Oh, maybe it’s a holiday that maybe witches made up a long time ago. I don’t know.

Mathew: So I probably imagine that, you know, costume companies and, you know, eventually, you know, Hollywood is to come up with this idea of Halloween to make movies and make people buy costumes. Yeah. And the candy companies, too.

That’s not entirely right.

Ladies and gentlemen, gather ‘round the virtual campfire because today we’re delving into the wickedly wonderful world of Halloween! Let’s take a spooky stroll through the history of this bewitching holiday.

[Spooky Sound Effects]

It all started with the Celts, who knew how to throw a ghostly party. On October 31st, they’d light bonfires and dress up in costumes to ward off pesky ghosts. Why? Because they believed that on the night before their new year on November first, the line between the living and the dead got blurred.

[Creepy Laughter]

‌But then, the Romans crashed the party, bringing their own traditions, celebrating a goddess with a penchant for apples. That’s where the tradition of bobbing for apples became a thing!

[Chomping Sounds]

‌Fast forward to Pope Gregory III, who decided November 1 was all about the saints. Soon, All Saints Day picked up some Samhain (Sow-in) traditions, and the evening before it was dubbed All Hallows Eve. You guessed it, the birth of Halloween! It wasn’t long before it became a day of treats, tricks, and all things spooky.

A.D. 1000 rolls around, and the church introduces All Souls’ Day to honor the dearly departed. Some say they were trying to replace the Celtic festival with their own similarly spooky celebration. Bonfires, parades, and dressing up as saints, angels, and devils? You bet!

Now, let’s hop across the pond to the good ol’ USA, where Halloween got a peculiar American makeover.

[Record Scratch]

‌Early on, colonial New Englanders weren’t too keen on Halloween because of their strict Protestant beliefs. But down south in Maryland, it was a whole different pumpkin patch!

‌As European traditions mingled with American Indian customs, a uniquely American Halloween began to take shape. They had “play parties” – think of them as the OG Halloween block parties. Folks would share ghost stories, predict the future, dance, and sing their hearts out.

[Doorbell Rings]

The massive influx of Irish immigrants, fleeing the potato famine, gave Halloween a nationwide makeover. They brought their love for the holiday and a penchant for a good old-fashioned spooky soirée, and thus, trick or treating came to be!

There you have it, the wild and wacky history of Halloween, from Celtic spirits to American celebrations. So this October 31st, when you’re bobbing for apples and dressing up, remember, it’s all part of this fantastic, centuries-old ghostly gala. Happy Halloween, folks!

For Annenberg Media, I’m Lindsey Miller and Riley Rodriguez.

[Creepy Laughter and Spooky Music]