The truth about Halloween’s origin might surprise us. It actually draws from both Celtic and Christian traditions.

So where does the name Halloween come from? Is it Christian or Pagan?

Halloween is actually two words smushed together. “Hallow” — or holy person — refers to the saints celebrated on All Saints’ Day, which is November 1. The “een” part of the word is a contraction of “eve” — or evening before, meaning October 31st.

So basically, the Christian observance of Halloween is just an old-fashioned way of saying the night before All Saints’ Day.

This comes from the fact November 1 is All Saints’ Day, a Christian feast dedicated to celebrating the faithful departed, including all the saints. In Christian tradition, people start celebrating major feasts the night before they take place — take Christmas Eve, for instance.

A Celtic festival commemorating the summer’s end.

Historians, however, have linked Halloween to Samhain, a Celtic festival celebrating summer’s end. It is celebrated in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man.

According to Celtic mythology, the veil between the Otherworld and our world thins during Samhain, making it easier for spirits and the souls of the dead to return. People would make offerings of food in hopes of getting on the good side of these spirits and departed ancestors.

Originally the time to celebrate this holiday was in the Spring. But in 837 Pope Gregory IV switched it to the current date. Reasons were unclear, but there is thought that it makes sense to commemorate death during the fall rather than in Springtime.

Today’s Celebration

Whatever the origin, Halloween is still being celebrated around the world today. Many symbols and traditions are attached. Here in the USA we tend to buy costumes, have Fall festivals/carnivals, Trunk-or-Treat events, door-to-door Trick-or-treating, and so much more. Corn stalks, bales of hay, a party atmosphere, and it’s all good fun if having a good time is the goal. Naughty pranks aren’t good and some even put others in danger.

Pumpkins and Jack-O-lanterns

There’s nothing that spells fun like visiting a pumpkin patch. So many of all sizes to pick from and possibly a corn maze, too. Of course, grocery stores have an abundance of pumpkins for customers to take home. Families enjoy carving faces on these giant orange orbs. Some are scary and others whimsical. But the origin of the Jack-O-lantern is rather dark. It symbolized a fateful deal with the Devil. Not a nice thought at all. But this might account for all the scary costumes that are chosen. And those frightening movies might be part of the same sinister side of Halloween. I don’t watch them and hope you will protect your children from that dark influence. If not, your youngsters might have nightmares.

My advice: Make your pumpkin a happy one or a silly one. Do your best to fill young minds with smiles and pleasant thoughts.

Dressing in Costume

Ancient Celts dressed up as evil spirits in order to confuse demons. Most Christ-centered churches recommend costumes reflect a Christian character (Noah, a shepherd, Queen Esther…) or a quality that doesn’t create excess fright.

Dressing in disguises and visiting neighborhoods while dancing, playing music, or doing tricks — was quite popular fun in medieval Europe for major feast days.

What about the United States? Modern day trick-or-treating didn’t catch on here until the 1920s. The practice was pretty controversial into the 1950s. Plenty of adults raised “stern objections” to trick-or-treating over the decades, and viewed the idea as a form of extortion.

Halloween is Very Profitable

According to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) Halloween Spending Soars, more than a third of consumers start their Halloween shopping in September or earlier. Nearly 40 percent make their candy and costume purchases during the first two weeks of October, and the remaining 20 percent shop in the two weeks leading up to October 31. Today, adults dress up along with their children and even the pet gets a costume.

Keep Halloween a fun and safe day. Enjoy the celebration but don’t spend more than is smart according to the family’s budget. Get creative. Make the costume or visit a thrift store like Goodwill Industries. They are well stocked for Halloween.