After Halloween’s passing, Long Island families are removing their disguises: adorned with doorstep jack-o’-lanterns and the occasional woven spider web. Halloween is deeply embedded in the culture of America, from the deep heart of Texas to our home on Long Island, New York.
This holiday, celebrated annually on October 31, landed on a Thursday this year, and some schools, like Ward Melville, opted to have no classes the following day in honor of Diwali. In the past, Halloween commenced in the ancient Celtic region, during which people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts and evil spirits. Additionally, this day pronounced the end of summer and the beginning of the harvesting season. The old Celtics believed that on Halloween’s Eve, the night of October 30, the line between the living and dead worlds is blurred.
As time progressed and the Celtics began disappearing, the Romans and other civilizations started mixing and matching other holidays with the true purpose of Halloween. One of the main holidays that Halloween was celebrated with (and still is) is “All Saints’ Day,” celebrated on November 1. This holiday, in the Christian church, commemorates all the saints of the church who are in heaven.
Halloween arrived in the U.S. through the American colonies during the period of European exploration, expansion and colonization. Most of the European colonists arriving in America were originally from England, where most of the Celtic people lived, bringing with them the traditional celebration of Samhain (present-day Halloween).
In the present day, Halloween activities may include trick-or-treating, visiting haunted houses or watching scary movies, depending on individual preference. Original Halloween pranks included placing farmers’ wagons and livestock on barn roofs and uprooting vegetables in backyard gardens. By the 20th century, this holiday was not uncommon to celebrate.
In the 1940s, costumes were viewed as we know and see today. They became less abstract and more mainstream. A large variety was now offered in clothing stores, as they took inspiration from radio shows, comics or popular movies.
Trick-or-treating can be traced back to the creators of the original Halloween holiday: the Celtics. Celtic villagers used to disguise themselves in costumes made with animal skins to scare away unwanted visitors. Additionally, they would leave out banquet tables and food for evil spirits. Later, individuals began dressing up as ghosts, demons and other characters representing evil spirits. The trick-or-treating custom used to be called mumming, and children participating were also named “mummers.”
Carving pumpkins stems from Scotland and Ireland, dating back to the 1800s. The tradition began by carving vegetables such as potatoes and eggplants. Iconic jack-o’-lanterns originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed “Stingy Jack,” who was punished to roam the earth with burning coal in a turnip to light his path. People carved scary faces and figures, placing them at their doorstep or their windows in an attempt to frighten “Stingy Jack” and any other wandering spirits.
