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100
Roman influence
"Apple bobbing" is a typical game played on Halloween that comes from the Roman tradition. When they conquered Britain (55 BC), they brought with them the apple tree. It represented Pomona, the Goddess of Fruits. Then, both Celtic and Roman rituals and traditions were combined. -
100
Samhain
Halloween is a holiday celebrated on the night of October 31. Over 2,000 years ago, the Celts celebrated the end of the harvest season on that day. They believed that on that night, the border between their world and the world of the dead is thin. The classic Halloween colors also originated with the Celtic festival Samhain. Black represented the “death” of summer and life, and orange symbolized the autumn harvest. -
250
Jack-o'-lantern
To combat the spirits, Celts often held bonfires and carried lanterns with ember carved from turnips, beets or potatoes. Later, when they brought the tradition to the USA, these lanterns became the well-known pumpkin lights. Jack-o-lanterns are based on a legend about a tricky man who tried to trick the Devil, but who was condemned to wander the earth for all eternity with only a turnip to light his way. -
Dec 24, 700
Soul cakes
Before the candy treats people eat today on Halloween, soul cakes were very popular, especially in the 8th century onwards. They originated many years ago in Medieval Britain and Ireland. These small, sound buns (that often contain fruit and spices) were made for All Saint's Day and All Soul's Day - November 1st and 2nd, the days after Halloween. At that time, when trick-or-treating, children went door to door singing songs and saying prayers for the dead to receive soul cakes in exchange. -
Celebration in America
The Great Famine that took place in Ireland caused thousands of deaths, and lots of Irish emigrated to America. There, they celebrated Halloween and it became gradually popular. -
Candy corn
Thanks to the end of the harvest, some of the typical Halloween symbols are apples, pumpkins, scarecrows... and corn! In America, George Renninger invented candy corn in the 1880s and today is a sweet Halloween favorite for many people. -
Costumes
Celts believed that ghosts were on the streets on Samhain, and the souls of the dead revisited people’s homes. So they dressed up and hid from the evil spirits and their tricks. Celts used animal heads and skins for that. The wearing of costumes was recorded in Scotland in the 16th, and later in other parts of Britain and Ireland. People were seen wearing masks, carrying lanterns, visiting homes to be rewarded with cakes, fruit and money. In the USA, this practice was first recorded in 1911. -
Candy apples
William W. Kolb invented the red candy apple in 1908, and they are very popular during Halloween because it coincides with the apple harvest season. -
Trick or treat
This fun activity became very popular in the USA in the 1920s thanks to the influence of the British customs. But the trick-or-treating started in the Celtic festival as well. People left food and drinks at their doorsteps, as offerings to appease the evil spirits. Children in costumes go from house to house asking for treats such as candy saying "Trick or treat". The "trick" is a prank they play when no treat is given to them. -
A popular holiday
Today, Halloween is America’s 2nd largest commercial holiday and people spend lots of money to celebrate it.
