Halloween is fascinating. Have you wondered how it came about? We sure have, and this is what we found:
Halloween has its origins in an ancient Gaelic festival called Samhain. It was celebrated over 2000 years ago in the Celtic-speaking areas of northwestern Europe (incuding Ireland, the UK and northern France). The festival took place from sunset on October 31 to sunset on November 1. It was a time to acknowledge the transition from the harvest season to the beginning of the harsh, dark winter. November 1st was considered the Celtic New Year.
The Celts believed that on the evening of Samhain, the border between the worlds of the living and of the dead was at its thinnest. Spirits could then easily cross over to roam the earth. To protect themselves, the Celts lit bonfires to ward off evil spirits and wore disguises to avoid being recognized by the ghosts.
As Christianity spread, the church integrated the pagan customs. Christians established November 1st as All Hallows Day, or All Saints’ Day, honoring all saints. The evening before All Saints’ Day became known as All Hallow’s Eve. Eventually, All Hallow’s Eve was shortened to Halloween. November 2nd became All Souls’ Day, honoring the departed. The October 31 to November 2nd was known as Hallowtide (Holy Time).
How did trick-or-treating come about? The theory is that it originated from a Hallowtide Christian custom of baking and sharing soul cakes. Groups of poor people, often children, would go door to door receiving these soul cakes in exchange for praying for the departed. This was called “souling.” The “soulers” served the departed. They laid the soul cakes on their graves.
During Halloween back then, Christians would carry lanterns made of hollowed-out turnips. Later jack-o’-lanterns were used to ward off evil spirits in the night.
How did Halloween spread to America? Apparently, Anglican colonists in the south and Catholic colinists in Maryland recognized All Hallow’s Eve. But the Puritans of New England st rongly opposed the holiday. (They opposed other traditional celebrations, too, including Christmas!)
Halloween became a major holiday in America with the mass Irish and Scottish imigration in the 19th century. Gradually, the celebration spread to the rest of the country by the 20th century. Voila!
Another fascination today, is how children love Halloween. How joyful they become when they can wear costumes and disguise themselves. (Of course, the candy is fun, too.) We wrote about this in a newsletter a few years ago.
Driving home at twilight one Halloween, we passed through West Brookfield. The town Common and adjoining streets were festively flooded with joyful children in a wide variety of costumes and disguises. The children were having a delightful time with their new identities for the day. And, the ghosts, goblins, and skeletons were getting along fine.
We commented how lovely it would be if we adults would take on our varying identities (as mothers, fathers, professionals, politicians, and so forth) with such joviality and ease: not taking ourselves so seriously, not bickering – even more importantly, not forgetting who we really are on the inside while performing our various roles and responsibilities on the outside.
And what if we could see one another in the same way as we can see those lovely children? Even in their attire of vampires and zombies, we can still see through, appreciating the little angels veiled within….
Wearing costumes and masks, children – and adults – can become whoever and whatever they want to be… They can temporarily leave behind the constraints and shortcomings of being who or what they are told they should be. Instead, they can totally immerse in being their superheroes, celebrities, favorite animal friends, or whatever else they masquerade as.
Not only can they try on new outfits but also new “infits:” they can try on new personas and new ways of being. They can explore and exercise new qualities and powers. The little boy or girl in a lion costume can feel what it’s like to roar — to be the king or queen of the savannah. The Peter Pan lookalike can imagine the joy and freedom of flying – and of never having to grow up. They can all feel what it’s like to be free spirited.
As a yogi/yogini, how can you enjoy Halloween on a deeper level? You might consider it a celebration of your freedom to become whoever or however you want to be. Or it might be your freedom to become the saintly one that you are meant to be (and already are). Or it could be to strip away your mask and let your Self shine forth unrestrained, unveiled. Swami Nirmalananda reminds us:
“…You are more than who you think you are. There is more to you on the inside than the outside can ever convey. This is yoga’s magic, to make you able to look inside and find who you are at the deepest and most expansive level within. To know your own Self, your Core-Essence, your own Beingness…”