Jack-o-lanterns originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed “Stingy Jack,” who tricked the Devil and was forced to roam the earth with only a burning coal in a turnip to light his way. The practice of carving faces into vegetables became associated with Halloween in Ireland and Scotland around the 1800s. Read more about the origins of trick-or-treating and the history of Halloween candy 19th Century: Jack-o-Lanterns Take Shape Known as "souling," the practice was later taken up by children, who would go from door to door asking for gifts such as food, money and ale-an early form of trick-or-treating. In England and Ireland during All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day celebrations, poor people would visit the houses of wealthier families and receive pastries called soul cakes in exchange for a promise to pray for the souls of the homeowners’ dead relatives. Trick-or-treating has become an integral part of Halloween. The Middles Ages: Trick-or-Treating Emerges Read more about how the early Catholic Church Christianized Halloween. (The Catholic Church still recognizes All Saints’ Day and All Souls' Day today, and some Wiccans and Celtic Reconstructionists commemorate Samhain.) Over many centuries, the three holidays-All Saints’ Day, All Souls' Day and Samhain-essentially merged into one: Halloween. The All Saints’ Day celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints’ Day) and the night before it, the traditional night of Samhain in the Celtic religion, began to be called All-Hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. It’s widely believed today that the church was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, church-sanctioned holiday. ![]() In the 7th century, the Catholic Church established November 1 as All Saints' Day, a day commemorating all the saints of the church. By the 9th century, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands, where it gradually blended with and supplanted older Celtic rites. In 1000 A.D., the church made November 2 All Souls’ Day, a day to honor the dead. It was expected that ancestors might cross over during this time as well, and Celts would dress as animals and monsters so that fairies were not tempted to kidnap them. During this time of year, hearth fires in family homes were left to burn out while the harvest was gathered. After the harvest work was complete, celebrants joined with Druid priests to light massive bonfires and pray.Ĭelts believed that the barrier between the physical and spirit worlds was breachable during Samhain. Īncient Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, marked Samhain at the midpoint between the fall equinox and the winter solstice. Samhain was celebrated with fires, dancing and costumes.
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