A Different Halloween

Pumpkins. Candy. Parties. We all have different ways to celebrate the same cherished festivity of Halloween. But, what are we really celebrating? And why is it that we celebrate Halloween the way we do?

Well, I felt a bit inspired and did some research. It turns out that the Celtic peoples celebrated the first Halloween-like festivities over 2,000 years ago in what is now Ireland. The Celts believed that October 31^st market the end of the summer and the beginning of the winter, a time of the year often associated with death due to harsh weather. To show their gratitude to the gods, they piled up vast amounts of crops and burned them. In the process, the Celts danced around the giant bonfire wearing costumes.

Interestingly, this pagan tradition was incorporated into the Christian faith in the 7^th century, when Pope Gregory III marked November 1^st as All Saints Day. The evening before would become the ever-more-popular Halloween.

So how does this relate to us? Well, sometime during the Protestant Reformation and the colonization of Mexico by Spain, the tradition of Halloween got twisted. In the United States, we treat Halloween as a holiday that’s not affiliated with religion.

However, in Mexico, the tradition is very different. People in Mexico celebrate Halloween as the Day of the Dead, and, rather than going trick-or-treating, Mexican families visit their lost relatives in their graves. It is typical for families in this country to sing, talk, and give offerings to those who are gone. I bet you’ve seen this before in your Spanish class.

If you think this is pretty cool, there will be a Day of the Dead festival held at the Atlanta History Center this Sunday October 28^th from 12 to 5 PM. Be there.

Conrado Brenna

Sources: http://www.history.com/topics/halloween; http://entertainment.accessatlanta.com/atlanta_ga/events/show/273517865-day-of-the-dead