The secular tradition of trick-or-treating has its roots in both the pagan and Christian holidays. The
practice can be traced to the original Halloween, known as Samhain, an ancient Celtic New Year's festival
during which human and animal sacrifices were made to the Lord of the Dead and the sun. During
Samhain, after offering a feast to the dead, amasked and costumed villagers representing the souls of the
dead paraded to the outskirts of town leading the ghosts away. In medieval times, Christians dressed as
their favorite saints for the All Hallows procession.
There is also a possible connection with Guy Fawkes celebrations of post-Renaissance England. In these,
children dressed up as the executed conspirator to beg "a penny for the Guy" from passing strangers. A
traditional Irish custom on Samhain eve was the soliciting of contributions in the name of Muck Olla, a
shadowy Druidic figure who would be sure to wreak vengeance on the ungenerous. Muck Olla's
vengeance gradually became transformed into the tricks of disappointed human revelers.
WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF THE WORD HALLOWEEN?
Halloween is a contraction of "All Hallows Even" and is named for the evening before All Saints' Day
(November 1) in the Christian religion. All Saints' Day is also known as All Hallows and Halloween is also
All Hallows Eve.
"Hallow" is derived from and Old English word meaning "holy person". In pagan times, Halloween was
the last day of the Celtic calendar and was thought to be the night when witches and warlocks were
roaming the land and when evil sprits and souls of the dead were abroad.
WHY IS IT CONSIDERED BAD LUCK WHEN A BLACK CAT CROSSES YOUR PATH?
The belief that meeting a black cat would bring bad luck arose in the Middle Ages in Europe. The cat was
considered a companion of witches and even their familiars. People believed that a witch could assume
the form of a black cat. Therefore,all black cats were suspected of being transformed witches. If a black
cat crossed your path, it was considered an omen of bad luck.
