How Halloween Got Its Start
Why do we celebrate Halloween by putting on bizarre outfits and asking strangers for candy?
Halloween is a very old holiday more than 6,000 years old. Even before the Catholic Church named it All Saints Day or All Hallows Day, it had deep roots in the ancient Irish Celtic culture. The Celtics practiced a nature-based religion that made them known as Druids. On their calendar November 1 was the beginning of the year so on October 31, the night before, they celebrated.
On that date the spirits of everyone who died that year would come out and roam the earth. Because the days were getting shorter and darker and the ruler of the darkness would led lead the spirits to the underworld.
Halloween costumes came about because people would dress as spirits to escape being noticed by real spirits. Young men would try to please the spirits by dressing as them in a white costume and black masks.
Treats and candy came about by trying to please the spirits. People would put treats and food out to satisfy the spirits as the roamed the streets.
More From B98.5
