Halloween
October 29th, 2008 | 
Author: 
As Halloween approaches I thought I would put pen to paper. This year (2008), we see Halloween falls on a Friday.
As most of us know it is a Holiday celebrated on the 31st October each year in most Western countries, but is it a pagan or Christian holiday? It could be said that both sides (Pagans and Christians) are associated with Halloween. The closest Christian tradition seems to be All Saints Day (1 November) and the Celts celebrate Samhain. Samhain is the festival that is celebrated at the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture. It combines with aspects of a Festival of the Dead and is popularly regarded as ‘The Celtic New Year’. In contrast All Saints day is celebrated by Christians as a day commemorating the early martyrs of the church. In the early Church, Christians would celebrate the anniversary of a martyr’s death for Christ (known as the saint’s “birth day”) by serving an all night vigil and then celebrating the Eucharist over their tomb or the shrine at their place of martyrdom, but as time progressed, a specific day was instituted to combine remembrance of all the saints. All Saints day falls on 1st November and is still very much celebrated in certain parts of the world. However I think that the festival is more Pagan than Christian as the symbolism between Samhain and Halloween is more closely related. The Celts would light huge bonfires and dress up, often wearing masks and would dance and celebrate the dead around the fires. It was believed that the dancing and festivities was a way of placating the dead and ensuring that the New Year would bring bumper crops.
The carved pumpkin with its lit candle inside has become a modern symbol of Halloween. This is commonly called a Jack-o-Lantern and its origins can be traced back to Ireland. As tradition would have it, the story goes that Jack the Smith was the town drunkard, deceiver, manipulator and otherwise dreg of society. He was also sometimes referred to as “Stingy Jack”.
The Legend of Jack
The story goes that one fateful night the Devil overheard the tale of Jack’s evil deeds and silver-tongue. Unconvinced and envious of the rumours, the Devil went to find out for himself whether or not Jack lived up to his vile reputation. When the Devil caught up with Jack, he was drunk and wandering through the countryside at night. The devil first posed as a body lying upon the cobblestone path with an eerie grimace on its face. Jack, in a sombre mood, realized this was his end and that the Devil had finally come to collect his soul. In a bid to outwit the Devil, Jack made a last request and asked the Devil to let him drink ale before he departed to hell. The Devil finding no reason to refuse, took Jack to the local pub and supplied him with as many drinks as Jack wanted. His thirst quenched, Jack asked the Devil to pay the tab on the ale. Somewhat surprised and without money to pay the bill, Jack convinced the Devil to change into a silver coin with which to pay the bartender. The Devil agreed and changed into a coin. Shrewdly, Jack stuck the coin (the devil) into his pocket, which also contained a crucifix. The Devil, unable to escape his form (bound by the crucifix) agreed to spare Jack’s soul for ten years in exchange for setting the Devil free.
Ten years to the day, the Devil came to collect Jack’s soul. As the Devil prepared to take him to the underworld, Jack asked if he could have one apple. Foolishly the Devil once again agreed to this last request. As the Devil climbed up the branches of a nearby apple tree, Jack surrounded its base with crucifixes. The Devil, frustrated at the fact that he been trapped again, demanded to be released. Jack demanded that his soul never be taken by the Devil into Hell; the Devil agreed and was set free.
Eventually the drinking and unstable lifestyle took its toll on Jack; he died the way he had lived. As Jack’s soul prepared to enter Heaven through the gates of St. Peter he was stopped. He was told that due to the lifestyle he had lead, the life full of deceit, drinking and sinful behaviour, he was not permitted to enter Heaven. Jack in a dreary state now went and stood before the Gates of Hades and begged for commission into underworld. The Devil, fulfilling his obligation to Jack, could not take his soul; however, out of pity he gave Jack an ember. From that day on till eternity’s end, Jack is doomed to roam the world between the planes of good and evil, with only an ember inside a hollowed Turnip (Jack’s second favourite food, after rutabagas) to light his way while he waits for eternity’s end.
The Pumpkin
The pumpkin later came to replace the turnip at holiday time in North America because it was in plentiful supply during holiday season. Whether as a matter of convenience or by the influence of American popular culture through film and television on the rest of the western world, the carved pumpkin with its candle has become symbolic of Halloween.
Trick-or-treat?
Trick-or-treat is an activity designed for children whereby they go door to door on All Hallow’s Eve (Halloween) asking for sweats. It is customary for the children to be dressed up in costumes which can range from their favourite cartoon character to a traditional character for the holiday such as a witch, wizard, ghost, skeleton etc. The idea of the “Trick” is an idle threat to play a trick on the homeowner or his/her property if they are not given the “Treat” in the form of candy.
Foods
Besides the usual array of sweets and chocolates which adorn this holiday, the apple and especially the candy apply is associated with Halloween. An old custom which still persists in modern-day Ireland is the baking (or more often nowadays the purchase) of a barmbrack (a light fruit cake). A plain ring, coin or charms are placed in the cake before baking. It is believed that those who get a ring will find their true love in the coming year.
Costumes Galore
Despite the “Credit Crunch” it seems like adults this year are also getting involved in the festivities with retailers in the High Street reporting a 40% increase in the sale if Halloween costumes and paraphernalia especially to mums and dads.
Wishing you all happy and safe festivities.
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Tags: gaelic, Halloween, holliday, jack-o-lantern, October, pagan, Saints Day, Sweets, tradition, witches
