THE HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN

QUESTION ANSWER

1. What is the origin of the Halloween The origins of Halloween can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. Samhain was celebrated
celebration? by the Celts over 2,000 years ago in the region that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France. It
was observed at the end of the harvest season, marking the beginning of winter, a time often associated with
death as the days grew shorter and colder.

The Celts believed that on the night before the new year (which they believed to be November 1), the boundary
between the living and the dead became blurred. They believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to Earth,
causing trouble and damaging crops. This festival was seen as a time when the dead could walk among the
living, and it was both a time of celebration and preparation for the darker months ahead.

During Samhain, the Celts would light bonfires and wear costumes, often consisting of animal heads and skins.
They believed that the costumes and bonfires helped ward off evil spirits. People would also leave food and
wine on their doorsteps to appease the spirits and ensure a good harvest.

When the Roman Empire conquered the Celtic territories, the traditions of Samhain blended with Roman
festivals, particularly with the festival of Feralia, which commemorated the passing of the dead. Later, in the
eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints, naming it All Saints' Day.
The night before, October 31, became All Hallows' Eve, which eventually evolved into Halloween.

As time passed, Halloween traditions evolved, and the holiday became more secular. Various customs from
different cultures contributed to the modern celebration of Halloween, including the tradition of trick-or-treating,
dressing in costumes, carving pumpkins (jack-o'-lanterns), and participating in festive activities. Today,
Halloween is celebrated in numerous countries around the world and is often associated with fun, costumes,
spooky decorations, and the thrill of the supernatural.

2. What is the meaning of the word The word "Halloween" is derived from a contraction of the phrase "All Hallows' Eve," which refers to the night
“Halloween”? before the Christian feast of All Saints' Day, known as "All Hallows' Day." Over time, "All Hallows' Eve" was
shortened to "Hallowe'en" and eventually became "Halloween."
 "All Hallows' Day" is a Christian feast day celebrated on November 1st, dedicated to honoring the saints and
martyrs of the Christian faith. The night before, October 31st, became known as "All Hallows' Eve," the evening
before the festival. Eventually, this evolved into the secular celebration known as Halloween, marked by various
customs, including dressing in costumes, trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins, and engaging in festive activities
associated with the supernatural and the harvest season.

3. What’s the meaning of “Samhain” "Samhain" is an ancient Celtic festival and the precursor to the modern-day Halloween. The term "Samhain"
and how is it related to his celebration? (pronounced SOW-in or SAH-win) originates from Old Irish and means "summer's end." It was a significant
festival celebrated by the ancient Celts in Ireland, Scotland, and parts of the UK, marking the end of the harvest
season and the beginning of winter.

Samhain was a vital and symbolic time in Celtic culture, denoting the division between the lighter half (summer)
and the darker half (winter) of the year. It was celebrated around October 31st and November 1st,
corresponding to the changing seasons when days grew shorter, nights grew longer, and winter approached.

During Samhain, the Celts believed that the boundary between the physical world and the spiritual realm
became blurred. They thought that the spirits of the deceased, along with various supernatural entities, could
more easily visit the mortal world during this time. These spirits were not only those of deceased loved ones but
also otherworldly beings, some of which were not so friendly. The Celts performed rituals and made offerings to
appease and honor these spirits, as well as to protect themselves from potential harm.

Samhain involved traditions such as lighting bonfires, wearing costumes and masks to disguise themselves
from malevolent spirits, and making offerings of food and drink to the spirits. It was also a time for feasting and
community gatherings. The festival was associated with the themes of death, the harvest's end, and the cyclical
nature of life—embracing both the darkness of winter and the promise of spring's renewal.

Over time, as Christian traditions merged with Celtic rituals, Samhain's practices evolved into what is now
known as Halloween. Many of the customs and themes associated with Samhain, such as wearing costumes,
lighting bonfires, and acknowledging the presence of the spirit world, became integrated into the modern
celebration of Halloween.

4. How are the Romans related to the The Romans played a role in shaping certain aspects of Halloween's history through their festivals and
history of Halloween? traditions, which, over time, intermingled with earlier Celtic celebrations.

During the conquest of the Celtic territories, the Roman Empire's festivals and customs influenced the evolving
cultural practices, eventually merging with the Celtic traditions.

One of the significant Roman festivals that contributed to the development of Halloween was the celebration of
Pomona. Pomona was the Roman goddess of fruit and trees, and her festival was observed around November
1st. The symbol of Pomona was the apple, and her festival involved apple-based customs and activities. This
tradition eventually became linked to the Halloween practice of bobbing for apples, which became a common
feature of the modern Halloween festivities.

Moreover, the early Christian Church established the feast of All Saints' Day (All Hallows' Day) on November
1st. This was possibly a deliberate attempt to Christianize the pagan festivals, aligning the new Christian
holiday with the existing traditional celebrations. All Saints' Day commemorated the Christian saints and
martyrs, with the evening before the feast day becoming known as All Hallows' Eve, which later transformed
into the term "Halloween."

The fusion of Roman, Celtic, and Christian customs over centuries led to the development of the modern
Halloween celebration, encompassing various traditions, folklore, and activities observed on October 31st and
the following days. Elements from different cultures and historical periods have contributed to the diverse and
rich tapestry of what we recognize as Halloween today.

5. What is “All Hallows day”? All Hallows' Day, also known as All Saints' Day, is a Christian holiday observed on November 1st each year. It's
a day when Christians honor all the saints, known and unknown, who have attained heaven. The holiday is
meant to celebrate and remember the lives of those who have lived exemplary Christian lives and are believed
to be in the presence of God.

All Hallows' Day is closely associated with All Hallows' Eve, which is the night before and is more commonly
known as Halloween. Together with All Hallows' Eve and All Souls' Day (November 2nd), these days form a
triduum (a three-day observance) that commemorates the deceased and the saints in Christian tradition.

6. How did Halloween become so Halloween has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season
popular in the US? (Origins) and the beginning of winter. When the Romans conquered the Celtic lands, they incorporated some of their
traditions into the festival, and over time, it evolved into a Christian holiday known as All Hallows' Eve, the night
 before All Saints' Day.

7. When did playing pranks start as The tradition of playing pranks on Halloween can be traced back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the
part of the Halloween tradition? United States. It was primarily a way for young people to engage in mischievous activities, such as soaping
windows and tipping over outhouses.

8. When and how did Halloween
evolve into a mass-market holiday?
Give some examples of Halloween
merchandising.
Halloween's transition into a mass-market holiday in the U.S. began in the early 20th century when it became
more focused on community and family activities. This shift was influenced by immigrants, particularly the Irish,
who brought their Halloween customs to America. In the mid-20th century, the holiday became more
commercialized, with the rise of Halloween-themed merchandise and marketing. Examples of Halloween
merchandising include costumes, decorations, candy, and themed products in various stores. Today, it's a major
consumer holiday with a wide range of products and events.

TEAM NAMES:
Calzada Rodríguez Armando
Santiago Porras Dara Joana

SOURCES:
1. https://www.babyquip.com/blog/spooky-history-of-halloween?utm_term=&utm_campaign=Search-International-Mexico_Generic&utm_so
urce=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&gbraid=0AAAAAC4g6s5a0_wbkOqMSupgXNqw0tPtR&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqP2pBhDMARIsAJQ0Czo5E
J3WWSGvNLwg9Muclk60MDti8yVzEyAlPPHYxDBvTPHUQ6MDmYsaAtCOEALw_wcB
2. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Halloween
3. https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1456/history-of-halloween/