Halloween 2023: Origins, Meaning & Traditions

Spooky season aka Halloween is here with us. A holiday often seen as a chance to don creative costumes, embrace the spooky and downright eerie and indulge in candy overload, however, there’s more to it as Halloween has a captivating tapestry of history, tradition, and pure fun.

Let’s demystify Halloween. This spooky holiday’s origins trace back over 2,000 years and is thought to have influences from Christian beliefs and practices as it marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. The English word Halloween comes from All Hallow’s Eve which is a day before the Christian holy days of All Hallows Day which entails All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

During this days, Christian’s honor saints and pray for the departed souls who are yet to reach Heaven. The night of October 31st was believed to be the night when the boundary between the living and the dead blurred, allowing ghosts to roam freely thus giving rise to the spooky undertones of Halloween we know today. Common traditions associated with Halloween are Trick or Treat, wearing costumes, carving pumpkins, and visiting haunted houses. The practice of trick-or-treating has its roots in a medieval custom known as “souling.”

On All Hallows’ Eve, the poor would visit homes to receive “soul cakes” in exchange for prayers for the dead. This evolved into the modern-day tradition of kids dressing up and going door-to-door for candy. Instead of prayers, they offer the playful threat of tricks. Halloween is the perfect time to let your creativity run wild. Whether you're decorating your home, crafting costumes, or concocting creepy delights, there's no limit to the fun you can have.

So, this October 31st, embrace the spirit of Halloween, let your imagination take flight and have a spooktacular time!