The Origins of Halloween

Child Vampiress Costume

One of the most interesting pagan festival was the Celtic festival of Samhain marking the end of summer and harvest season. Samhain is sometimes regarded as a New Year’s celebration. The Celts felt that this was a very important holiday, because this was the day when the world of the living and the world of the dead were reunited. Mischievous spirits wreaked havoc, often destroying crops.

The Celts would leave food for them and hold huge crop-burning bonfires so that the light might cast out evil spirits. Candles or lanterns carved out of vegetables such as pumpkins lit the way for benevolent spirits. These pumpkin lanterns were obviously the precursors to our modern Jack-o-Lanterns. Often animal sacrifices were made to the Celtic gods.

By the 20th century, a party feel had replaced the religious overtones. A practice called Guising (from medieval times) was when poor people went around asking for money. Children started guising and dressing in costumes like the ones we use today. Over time, the darkness of Halloween has been replaced by something much more festive and positive.

Enjoy your Halloween season with a discounted costume purchased from the number one costume retailer with  a valuable BuyCostumes coupon code. There are so many to choose from these days, the children of the 19th century and earlier would hardly recognize the holiday!

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