by Cristina WhiteTrick-or-treat. Children get excited for this holiday every year, but do they know the real origins? Halloween, formerly known as All Hallow's Eve, has not always been about the trick-or-treating, glowing jack-o-lanterns, and decorative costumes. All Hallow's Eve was originally developed by the ancient Celts. It was a day to celebrate fall and a new year. It also served as a festival of the dead. A time where witches, goblins, ghosts, and demons could freely walk the earth.
The celebration of ancient rituals are still apparent in the modern day Halloween. Jack-o-lanterns developed from the idea of putting lantern gourds with carved scary faces out on paths to ward off the evil forces. The gourds were placed on the paths to guide ancestors safely home.
The idea of trick-or-treating emerged from the ancient tradition of children going door-to-door begging for items to burn the witches. Today children "beg" for candy and other treats. Playing tricks on unfortunate victims also makes All Hallow's Eve be known as Mischief Night. Originally children dressed as ghosts and goblins to fool people and cause trouble. Then again, who is really to know whether they were real or not?
All Hallow's Eve is more than dressing as someone you are not and collecting candy. It is mainly a time of getting rid of weaknesses, bringing the animals in for winter, and preparing for the cold months ahead. Since November 1 is All Saints Day, All Hallow's Eve is a time of remembrance of our ancestors. The Celtic New Year symbolizes a time to look toward to the future. The God Janus had two faces, one looking toward the past and the other looking toward the future. Halloween allows us to put masks on and cast them off. A way to get rid of weaknesses and prepare for the new year.
Modern-Day Halloween is not a holiday of evil, as it was once a day to ward off the evil spirits that may walk the earth. On All Hallow's Eve it has been said that the connection between the worlds of the living and the dead was at its thinnest. Making it easier for the evil spirits to roam the earth.
What do some of Hopkinton High School's teachers recall as a child at Halloween? Mrs. Zecha's favorite costume as a child was Cinderella. It was even equipped with a mask. While trick-or-treating she looked forward to the Snickers bars the most. Mr. Bickford enjoyed dressing up as a pirate in his childhood years. Mr. Bickford looked forward to anything that was chocolate but not the M&M's. "In an M&M the chocolate is watered down by the candy shell," said Bickford. Hopefully there were no M&M's in his candy bag.
Today Halloween traditions are significantly different. "Some communities have switched to trick-or-treating in the daytime," Zecha says, "when I was younger Halloween was always celebrated at night, never the daytime." Another concerning issue is the candy. "Peanut allergies were never a huge issue growing up, but now there are many children with them," adds Zecha. One year she gave out juice boxes for the children who cannot have chocolate or peanuts. Bickford adds, "In the old days, you didn't have to worry about candy, now you worry about someone putting cocaine in your candy bar."
What do some of Hopkinton High School's teachers recall as a child at Halloween? Mrs. Zecha's favorite costume as a child was Cinderella. It was even equipped with a mask. While trick-or-treating she looked forward to the Snickers bars the most. Mr. Bickford enjoyed dressing up as a pirate in his childhood years. Mr. Bickford looked forward to anything that was chocolate but not the M&M's. "In an M&M the chocolate is watered down by the candy shell," said Bickford. Hopefully there were no M&M's in his candy bag.
Today Halloween traditions are significantly different. "Some communities have switched to trick-or-treating in the daytime," Zecha says, "when I was younger Halloween was always celebrated at night, never the daytime." Another concerning issue is the candy. "Peanut allergies were never a huge issue growing up, but now there are many children with them," adds Zecha. One year she gave out juice boxes for the children who cannot have chocolate or peanuts. Bickford adds, "In the old days, you didn't have to worry about candy, now you worry about someone putting cocaine in your candy bar."
No matter what the name may be, All Hallow's Eve, Mischief Night, or Halloween, it is a holiday to share and enjoy. Lighting up the jack-o-lantern, decorating our yards, dressing up in fun costumes, and being outside on a cool night with the leaves falling and a bright orange moon are all things we associate with the night called All Hallow's Eve. But don't forget the candy. Halloween would not be complete without our new traditions.
