Reference:HALLOWEEN

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Contents 1 HALLOWEEN 1.1 GHOSTS, WITCHES, FORTUNES, OH MY! 1.2 CARVED TURNIPS? 1.3 PLOUGH OR TREAT 1.4 COMING TO AMERICA 1.5 EL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS 1.6 HOORAY FOR HALLOWOOD 1.7 FROM WITCHES TO HEROES 1.8 INTO THE 21ST CENTURY 1.9 READ MORE ABOUT IT (BIBLIOGRAPHY)

HALLOWEEN

The word itself means the ‘een of Hallow, that is the day before All Hallow's Day, hallow meaning to make holy. November 1 is more commonly called All Saints' Day, a celebration of all the saints and martyrs of the Catholic Church. It was declared official by Pope Boniface IV in the seventh century and moved to November 1 in the eighth century by Pope Gregory III. All Souls Day (November 2) as a day to intercede on behalf of souls still in purgatory was adopted in the tenth century. Although All Saints' Day has been recognized by other Christians, All Souls Day is not officially celebrated by most Protestants.

Late October and early November as a time of a festival for the dead goes back many centuries. The Celts celebrated a joint festival for the sun god and the god of the dead (Samhain) on October 31. Samhain assembled all the souls who had died in the previous year and who had spent the year in the body of an animal to expiate their sins. Samhain would then decree what form they would take in the next year or they would be admitted to the Celtic equivalent of heaven. Allowed brief visits to their relatives, these souls also wandered around, playing tricks. To appease them, horses and it is said sometimes humans were sacrificed. This practice was outlawed by Rome and later by Christianity but oxen and later black cats (who were thought to be witches in disguise) were still often secretly sacrificed.

GHOSTS, WITCHES, FORTUNES, OH MY!

Facing ghosts (i.e. all those wandering souls) alone was scary so people gathered together and told stories, usually of the spooky kind. They also played games, like bobbing for apples and ate lots of apples and nuts. Halloween has also become an important Sabbath for witch cults, second only to Walpurgis Night.

Fortune telling was once a Halloween tradition. One interesting Irish method was the use of a dish of mashed potatoes, parsnips, cabbage, and chopped onions called Colcannon. Mixed in the dish were various items that would indicate the fortune of the finder of that item. A ring meant you would be married within the year (what would happen if an already married person found this is not explained); a thimble meant you would never marry; a china doll meant you would have children; and a coin meant wealth.

CARVED TURNIPS?

Around November 1, Romans held a Pomona festival, Pomona being the goddess of fruit. Thus, Halloween became associated with the fall harvest and with fruits and nuts. Both Celts and Romans celebrated this time of year as a transition between the light of summer and the dark of winter. In the British Isles, oversized rutabagas, potatoes, and mostly turnips were hollowed out and faces carved on them. They were used to hold candles and thus became lanterns to use when venturing out into the scary dark. These became known as Jack O Lanterns. When immigrants to the United States brought this custom with them, they discovered that pumpkins were better for this purpose.

PLOUGH OR TREAT

Halloween has long been associated with mischief and pranks. Originally blamed on the ghosts and goblins, there were soon boys and young men overturning small buildings (such as outhouses) and putting buggies on roofs. Sometimes people would dress in masks and clothing of the opposite sex and eventually started asking for "bribes" to not cause mischief. There was also an English tradition of ploughmen begging for gifts and threatening to damage the grounds with their ploughs if none were forthcoming. Destructive vandalism became a part of Halloween and, although many attempts have been made to ameliorate this, it still goes on in some cities where fires are set, etc. A custom called "souling" also became prevalent. Supplicants would go door to door asking for food in return for prayers for the dead. Often they were dressed up and carrying carved turnips (see above). This was the origin of "trick or treating."

COMING TO AMERICA

The Gaelic influenced traditions of Halloween were brought to the United States by the Scots in the early nineteenth century and in the 1840's by the Irish. By the late 19th century, Halloween had become a popular holiday in the U.S. Trick or treating as we know it is essentially a 20th century American phenomenon.

By the early twentieth century, there were crackdowns on some of the more damaging vandalism. Also many colleges had begun to participate in various revels, including plays, parties, hazing and pranks. Soon, in order to alleviate vandalism, communities, clubs, and churches sponsored parades and parties. There were also private parties, often with costumes and costume contests.

Although adults and teens remained active at Halloween, by the 1940's it had become mainly a children's holiday. Trick or treating became fashionable, reaching its peak in the 1950's. Much of this was consumer driven and cookies, candies, nuts and fruits were the main treats. However, some charities, especially UNICEF, used Halloween to collect money.

Because of some reported incidents with razor blades in fruit and goodies spiked with drugs or poison, trick or treating had declined by the 1970's. Private parties, more adults accompanying children, acceptance of wrapped goodies only and even x-raying soon were the rage. Safety tips in the media became an annual event. By the 1980's, malls, clubs, community centers, etc. sponsored Halloween events (just like in the early part of the century but for different reasons). Children continued to dress up and go trick or treating but mostly in their own neighborhood and with an adult lurking nearby.

Rogers (see Bibliography) speculates that the fears (many unfounded or exaggerated) stemmed from the turbulence of the 1960's and the uncertainty of the 1970's. The world seemed a scarier place and Halloween became a part of that scare. Also many cities had riots and fires being set, Detroit being the quintessential example of a city seemingly out of control around Halloween. Of course, much of this was reminiscent of long standing activities at Halloween.

EL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS

In Mexico, November 1 and 2 are also celebrated as All Saints Day and All Souls Day respectively (called the feast of Todos Los Santos). Preparations begin on October 30 for the three day fiesta of El Dia de Los Muertos, which begins on October 31. Fruit is gathered. Candy and cookies carved as skulls are bought or made. Chickens, turkeys, and hogs are killed and chilies are ground. Bakers are baking the traditional sweet bread, Pan de Muertos. A dish of food, a lighted candle, and a bouquet of flowers are laid out for each person from the household who has died. The spirits will consume the food before dark on November 2. The first night is for children; the next night for adults.

Many objects about and for the dead are displayed and sold. Skeletons are especially popular. The skulls are often caricatures of prominent people. Satiric newspapers called Calaveras (Spanish for skeletons) are published. These attack superiors, including politicians and priests.

Like the European Halloween, El Dia de Los Muertos is a combination of pre-Christian traditions and Christianity. To the Aztecs, Mayas, etc. death was a part of life. This tradition remains today in Mexican culture which has a unique blend of a celebration of life and of death. El Dia de Los Muertos is a prime example of this. It is a combination of a public holiday, making light of death and poking fun at it and a private holiday to honor the memory of deceased loved ones. In recent years, due to the influence of the United States, October 31 has become more and more prominent in the three day celebration. Among those of Mexican descent living in the United States, the Day of the Dead has become closely associated with Halloween. Even in Mexico, there has been a blending of the two, despite objections from traditionalists. (For a bibliography on Day of the Dead, ask at reference desk).

HOORAY FOR HALLOWOOD

Horror films have been around practically since the beginning of the movies. Characters from these movies often became costumes at Halloween. The media, aside from such events as Orson Welles' famous "War of the Worlds" broadcast on radio on October 30, 1938, seldom intertwined with Halloween until the last quarter of the twentieth century. Older movies became standard fare on television around Halloween. Meanwhile, at the movie theater, more graphic blood and gore in contemporary settings were common around Halloween. The Friday the 13th movies are good examples. But the obvious connection between Halloween and cinema is the cycle of "Halloween" movies.

FROM WITCHES TO HEROES

A good summary of the costume tradition is found in Bannatyne (see bibliography), p. 149: "Perhaps the most important part of...Halloween is the disguise. Some...opt for the traditional...ghosts, witches ...or any of a variety of ghouls and goblins. Others choose parody, donning likenesses of political leaders or movie stars. For instance, children's costumes in the 1920s reflected the public's idols and interests:...Topsys, Chinamen, clowns, Charlie Chaplins...and the ubiquitous hobo. By the 1950s, children's costumes reflected the images made popular for each sex by an increasingly powerful media:... princesses, brides and angels among girls; army men and hoboes among boys. And television and movies have introduced a whole new cast of potential Halloween characters. ...athletes, angels, astronauts, firemen, Flintstones, monsters, Muppets, Mouseketeers, movie stars, rock stars, and on one occasion, a Pet Rock. During the peak of the Star Wars movies, Darth Vaders wandered the streets...[later there was] E.T."

In fact, E.T. himself went trick or treating as a ghost.

Since this was written, we have seen ALF, Jason, Ross Perot, Barney, O.J. Simpson, Mutant turtles, Beavis and Butthead, characters from Disney movies, Nixon, Clinton, Monica Lewinsky, Britney Spears, etc. In 2001, due to 9/11 attack, many kids chose to dress as firemen, soldiers, policemen, Statue of Liberty and in other heroic and patriotic costumes. In recent years, Scooby Doo, Spider Man, characters from Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Shrek and Star Wars again. We have even seen SpongeBob SquarePants but at the same time traditional costumes remain “in.”

INTO THE 21ST CENTURY

In 1980, 25% of costumes were for adults; by 1986, this figure had reached 60% and judging by the recent opening of Halloween stores with mostly adult costumes, has most likely reached an even higher figure. Halloween has once again become essentially an adult holiday. It is now the second biggest party night of the year (next to New Years' Eve) and the second biggest commercial holiday (next to Christmas). Many groups, especially feminists and gays, have begun to use it for political purposes, with parades using satire and pointed barbs to make their points. This is not a new phenomenon but has reached greater heights as we enter the new century.

There has been a growth of public "haunted houses", some commercial, some for charitable purposes. Decorations at home and at work are common. The tremendous growth of Halloween as a commercial and adult holiday has also brought a backlash from Christian Fundamentalists. They see the holiday as satanic and anti-Christian but its popularity is unlikely to wane. While there are still incidents of vandalism and even violence, Halloween has become to many the only truly "fun" holiday.

READ MORE ABOUT IT (BIBLIOGRAPHY)

(NOTE: Call numbers are for SDSU Library)

Bannatyne, Lesley Pratt. Halloween. New York: Facts on File, 1990. (GT 4965 B28 1990)

Cohen, Hennig and Tristam Potter Coffin, eds. The Folklore of American Holidays. Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1999. (GT 4803 F65 1987 Ref.) pp. 427-438.

Morton, Lisa. Halloween Encyclopedia. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co., 2003. (GT 4965 M673 2003 REF)

Ohanion, Susan. From Pumpkin Time to Valentines: Sneaking Language Arts Strategies into Holiday Celebrations. Englewood, Co.: Teacher Ideas Press, 1994. (LT 4000 T21F76 1994 k-6)

Rogers, Nicholas. Halloween: from pagan ritual to party night. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.(GT 4965 R634 2002)

Santino, Jack, ed. Halloween and Other Festivals of the Dead. Knoxville, TN.: University of Tennessee Press, 1994. (GT 4965 H32 1994)

Skal, David J. Death Makes a Holiday: A Cultural History of Halloween. New York, NY: Bloomsbury, 2002. (GT 4965 S55 2002)

For other books, check the library's online catalog (the PAC) under terms such as Halloween, All Saints Day, All Souls Day, Festivals, Holidays, and Social Life and Customs added to countries (e.g. Mexico - Social Life and Customs).

Cecilia Puerto has also prepared a bibliography on Day of the Dead. Ask at the Reference Desk.

For further assistance, ask a librarian

Prepared by Chuck Dintrone 10/94; latest revision, 05/05

San Diego State University Library