(October 26, 2001) -- Halloween rolls around every year with candy, ghosts and goblins, but do you know the origins of this creepy holiday? The word itself is mysterious, but the name Halloween gives us some clues about its origins.

We are going to take a trip back in time to ancient Britain. Two thousand years ago, the Celts (pronounced Kelts) thought of Oct. 31 as the end of the year. The dead were honored during the celebration Samhain (pronounced sow-ain). The Celts believed that on this day the boundary between the living and the dead blurred and ghosts and spirits would roam the villages. Druid priests would build large bonfires, read fortunes and offer sacrifices. All this was done to appease the spirits that wandered the night.

As the Romans moved in to Celtic lands, they brought their fall harvest customs with them. They had two fall festivals: Feralia, a day to remember the dead and a day to honor the goddess Pomona, the goddess of fruit and trees. Incidentally, Pomona’s symbol was the apple. This may explain today’s tradition of bobbing for apples.

As Christianity took hold of the Roman lands, the church decided to superimpose a Christian holiday over the old Celtic-Roman ones. In the seventh century, the church moved All Saints Day, a day to remember Catholic saints, from May to Nov. 1. Later, in the tenth century AD, the Catholic Church added All Souls’ Day on Nov. 2.

All Souls’ Day was celebrated with parades while people dressed in costumes of saints, angels and devils.

The church hoped that these holidays would replace the pagan celebrations. All Saint’s Day was called All-hallows or All-Hallowmas, and the night of Samhain came to be called All-hallows eve. Eventually All-hallows eve evolved into Halloween.

Although Halloween evolved into the children’s holiday that we know today, we should always remember that its origins are ancient, mysterious and pagan.

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Pumpkins stacked high to the ceiling and aisles of candy adorn our supermarkets. Costumed kids come door-to-door trick-or-treating. Pumpkins are carved into jack-o-lanterns. Our Halloween customs are well known to us, but what does the rest of the world do? Does the rest of the world just let October pass without any celebration?

In Britain, people carve out turnips instead of pumpkins to make jack-o-lanterns. People play practical jokes on the greedy and the mean spirited. Sounds like the trick in our trick-or-treat!

Ireland shares many of the traditions we have. A few weeks before Halloween, kids dress in old clothing and sheets. They go about their neighborhood and sing songs for treats such as apples and nuts.

The Romans originally celebrated the festival of Feralia. However, Pope Boniface replaced Feralia with All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. Europeans remember and honor the dead on All Souls’ Day, which is celebrated on Nov. 2. France, however, has begun to adopt some American customs. Halloween is celebrated with children’s parties and games. Many cities host Halloween fetes or festivals.

Throughout Spanish speaking America The Day of the Dead, Día de los Muertos, is the fall celebration. In Mexico, this celebration with elaborate displays of flowers and food honors and remembers the dead. For a number of days, culminating on All Souls’ Day, the people believe that the dead return to their homes with candles and marigolds lighting their way.

However, it is not just a somber day of remembrance. Candy skulls and special sweet breads are prepared and eaten. Death is commemorated and mocked all in one grand celebration.
Somber or silly October holidays are celebrated and enjoyed throughout the world.