Trick-or-treat, give us something good to eat

Halloween is celebrated annually on 31 October and has its roots firmly placed in old European traditions.

According to History.com, it originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts.

In the 8th Century, Pope Gregory III designated 1 November as a time to honour all saints and soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating and carving jack o’lanterns.

An activity which had its origins in romance is bobbing for apples. This activity has since become synonymous with Halloween and originates from two Roman festivals combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain.

The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honour Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees.

During an annual celebration, young unmarried people would try to bite into an apple floating in water or hanging from a string and the first person to bite into the apple would be the next one to be allowed to marry.

Weird Halloween facts you might not have known:

• The first jack o’lanterns were actually made from turnips
• Samhainophobia is the fear of Halloween
• Scarecrows symbolise the ancient agricultural roots of the holiday.
• If you see a spider on Halloween night, it could be the spirit of a loved one who is passed and is watching you
• Before modern day trick or treating, there was Souling. On Hallowmas, the day after Hallow’s Eve, the poor would go door-to-door offering prayers for the dead in exchange for soul cakes.

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