THE ORIGINS OF HALLOWEEN

To many Italians, Halloween still feels like an American fashion trend imported in the 1990s by such TV serie sas Beverly Hills, 90210. They couldn’t be any more wrong.

NOVEMBER AS THE MONTH OF THE DEAD

The name comes from a contraction of All Hallow Even(ing) and, as such, testifies to its being part of Allhallowtide, which commemorates All Saints’ Day (celebrated in Italy as well under the name of Ognissanti on November 1st) and All Souls’ Day (finding its exact equivalent in Italian Giorno dei Morti on November 2nd).

In the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, Allhallowtide also sets the (somehow serious and melancholic) tone for Remembrance Day, observed on November 11th to honor those lost in wars and conflicts. This commemoration is symbolized by the poppy, which is worn by the British Royal Family and by authorities all over the Commonwealth throughout the month of November.

The poppy is said to have been inspired by the blooming of red poppies on the devastated battlefields of the Western Front during WWI. However, the connection with red being a symbol of bloodshed and martyrdom is also evident and undeniable.

THE CHRISTIAN CELEBRATION AS THE START OF THE TRICK-OR-TREAT TRADITION

The Christian tradition of Allhallowtide dates back to medieval times, and sees a yet further similarity between Italian and Anglosphere culture in such sweets as pane dei morti and soul cakes. Even though the treats itself are very different in terms of recipes, their function was similar insofar as they were shared with the poor, who were asked to pray for the souls of the departed dear ones.

In the United Kingdom, they were called ‘soulers’ and would go from door to door, singing and saying prayers for the souls of givers and of their departed relatives and friends, thought to be in the intermediate state between Heaven and Hell. Soulers were often orphaned children stocking for the winter and making a job out of praying – which sheds interesting light on soulers as being the ancestors to the modern version of children going tricking or treating and asking (instead of literally begging!) for sweets.

Yet, our travel back in time has just begun, as Halloween is much more ancient than the Christian celebration and falls into the category of what we may call ‘harvest time celebrations’ that we can find in any time and any culture.  

A CELTIC HARVEST CELEBRATION RESULTING INTO WEARING COSTUMES  

More specifically, though, Halloween is rooted in the Celtic festival of Samhain, celebrated over 2,000 years ago by Celts in the are encompassing modern Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France. Samhain marked, precisely, the end of the harvest season and the Celtic New Year, which fell on November 1st. This date, in effect, was seen as the start of winter and – since in the winter trees are barren and nature bears little to no fruit – it was associated with death.

Because of the fact that winter was associated to death, Celts believed that on the night before its beginning, October 31st, the veil between the living and the dead blurred, thus allowing spirits to return to Earth. To protect themselves and their crops from these spirits, the Celts lit sacred bonfires and wore costumes, sometimes made of animal hides. Costumes were also used to appear as one of the spirits to avoid harm. Here lies the origin of wearing a (scary!) costume on that night.

THE ROMAN ORIGINS OF APPLE BOBBING

When the Roman Empire expanded into Celtic territories, they combined aspects of two of their own festivals with Samhain. These included Feralia, a day in late October honoring the dead, and the festival of Pomona, the goddess of fruit and trees, whose symbol, the apple, is thought to be the origin of bobbing for apples. 

THE ORIGINS OF THE JACK-O’-LANTERN

There is one tradition that still awaits explanation: the Jack-o’-Lantern, that is, the latern made by hollowing out a pumpkin and carving it. Here, Gaelic paganism, Christianity, and the influence of American local produce on European immigrants interestingly converge.

Let’s take a step back to Gaelic Samhain, when the night between October 31st and November the 1st was thought to be a time when the spirits could walk the Earth. Other than wearing a costume to protect themselves from those spirits, people would avoid cemeteries and crossroads, as spirits were thought to gather there. To ensure further protection from them, they would try and ward off evil spirits by lighting hollowed-out turnips carved with monstrous faces and placing them on windowsills.

At the same, time, though, these lanterns were meant to attract hobs, small household spirits present in many cultures under different names, from tomten in Scandinavia to Jack-o’-the-bowl in Switzerland. In exchange for a bowl of milk, they would perform useful chores, often in connection with cattle. In Italy as well, there used to be the so-called ‘folletto del focolare’, which – just like its Germanic counterparts – may have had its ancestors in Roman Lares and Penates, that is, somehow similar household gods.

But why, of all vegetables, carving such a lantern into a pumpkin? The pumpkin, in effect, is native to the American continent, and it was only when they found themselves without access to turnips that immigrants with Celtic ancestry – that is, originally coming from Scotland, Wales, and Ireland – started carving a local squash, the pumpkin, as it had a shape somehow similar to the turnip, and which has over time become a quintessential part of Halloween not only in America, but also back in the Old Continent.

This way, the past has come full circle to the present and to the 'Americanized' version that has landed and taken roots in Italy since the 1990s. .   

Are you eager to find out more about the Anglosphere history, traditions, and work culture? At Personal English we do not only offer language courses and Business English classes, but we also tailor Cultural Awareness courses and business etiquette Masterclasses.

At Personal English we are aware that, in order to navigate the geopolitical complexities of an evermore global market, language is not the only barrier - cultural diversity may also be, especially when it comes to understanding core values and communication strategies. To find out how we can help you effectively address cross-cultural and communication challenges you face in the workplace, don't hesitate to Contact us.