The History of Halloween Haute CoutureBy Jessica Bianchi [Happy Holidays]
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How did the tradition of dressing up and asking for candy cross the Atlantic? Jessica Bianchi traces the roots of the holiday known for its eccentric and eerie fashion sense.  There are a few really good reasons why I love Irish people. One, they invented a day where it is expected, and even encouraged, to drink until you see leprechauns. Two, they have really cool accents that always make them sound like they are being nice, even if they’re not. And three, they made it okay to dress up one night a year and shamelessly ask your neighbours for free candy. Unfortunately, Halloween has evolved into a night on which young girls can put a promiscuous spin on almost any profession. But have you ever wondered where the fashion of Halloween originated?I See Dead People Halloween originated with the Celtic people in ancient Ireland, who were very conscious of the spiritual world. Much like the ancient Greeks and Romans, they believed they could gain access to the spiritual world by aiding their over 300 gods in various ways on earth. The Celtics celebrated two main feasts a year: Beltane, at the beginning of the summer (May 1) and Samhain, at the end of the summer (November 1). During Samhain, the Irish believed that the thin veil between the natural and spiritual world was temporarily removed. As a result, the dead and any other supernatural forces were free to roam the earth instigating chaos and searching for the home in which they once lived. The Celtic priests, called Druids, would perform rituals. They would offer sacrifices in open bonfires ensuring the sun would return after winter and hoping to ward off any evil spirits. The Druid bonfires would burn throughout the winter and sacrifices of crops, animals and, in some cases, humans would be presented routinely. But the fire alone couldn’t keep the spirits at bay. Soul Food On the night of Samhain, frightened villagers would offer the wandering spirits fruit and nuts in order to appease them. They would place plates of their finest foods and treats on their doorsteps to satiate the famished ghouls. They believed that if they didn’t do this, the spirits might ruin their crops and destroy their belongings. For ultimate protection, the superstitious Celts would dress up as one of the wayward spirits in hopes of blending in. They would wear masks and costumes, or blacken their faces with soot from the bonfires. By A.D. 43, the Romans had conquered much of the Celts’ land. With this conquest came the mingling of two cultures and traditions. Pope Boniface IV introduced a celebration of Christian saints and martyrs (All Saint’s Day) on May 13th to replace the pagan feast of the dead. In 834, Gregory III moved All Saint’s Day from May 13th to November 1st and with it was born the tradition of remembering all who had died in the Christian community. October 31st eventually became known as All Hallows’ Eve (hallow means saint). |
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