Halloween History and Safety Tips
The days are getting shorter, the nights a bit cooler, leaves are turning color and that means Halloween. Of course, most children love Halloween while adults seem to either love it or despise it. Where did the tradition to celebrate October 31st come from and why…
Roots in Ancient History
Approximately 2,000 years ago the Celts lived in a part of the world that we now call Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France. November 1st was considered the official end of summer and the harvest. Thereafter, started the cold, dark time of year typically associated with death. The Celts chose November 1st as the start of their new year.
To celebrate, the Celts put out their hearth fires, wore costumes made from animal hides and heads and burned crops in the bonfires. Once the celebration was over, the Celts used the sacred bonfire to re-light their hearths hoping to ward off any evil during winter.
The Roman Empire conquered most of the Celtic territory by 43 A.D. and ruled the land for 400 years. As a result, the Celtic celebration became combined with two Roman festivals: Feralia, when Romans celebrated the passing of the dead, and Pomona’s festival, the goddess of fruit and trees. Many believe this is where the tradition of “bobbing” for apples came from.
In 609 AD, a day to celebrate martyrs was created by the Catholic Church. While the date and name of the festival changed over the next hundred years or so, it was celebrated in a similar fashion as the Celtic holiday. It is now known as All Souls Day, which falls on November 2.
Halloween comes to America
During Colonial times, celebrating Halloween was limited due to strict religious beliefs and was more popular in Maryland and the south. In the mid-1800’s America was flooded with immigrants from all over Europe. Immigrants, especially those from Ireland, helped make Halloween a national celebration. People started dressing up and going house to house asking for food or money, thus trick-or-treat was born.
Today, Halloween is a $7 billion business.
Trick or Treating Safely
Most American children have enjoyed dressing up for Halloween and going trick-or-treating. With crime on the rise, how do you trick-or-treat safely?
- Make sure any costume accessories are relatively short and flexible.
- Don’t go trick-or-treating alone, children should be in groups or with an adult.
- Consider using reflective tape on costumes and bags so that can drivers see you.
- Before you eat any treats, examine all of them for choking hazards and tampering and throw away homemade treats given to you by strangers; and don’t eat all your treats at once.
- Use a flashlight while trick-or-treating.
- Remember that wearing decorative contact lenses can cause permanent eye injury.
- Always use sidewalks or walk along the far edge of the road.
- Only go inside of a home with the adult accompanying you, never enter alone.
- Only trick-or-treat at well-lit houses.
- Never accept a ride from a stranger.
Follow these tips and have a fun-filled Halloween.
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