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The 31st of October is fast approaching. At the office, in bars, or even at home, spider webs and faux (or real) pumpkins are cropping up everywhere. You might be among those eagerly anticipating it, or conversely, those who loathe the celebration. “Tired of importing celebrations from the US,” is a frequent gripe. However, that’s not accurate. So, where does the tradition of Halloween come from? You might be surprised to learn that this night of fright originated right here on this side of the Atlantic, in Europe…
👻 Want a real scare? Check out our list of the most haunting places in Europe. You won’t be disappointed.
What are the origins of Halloween?
The roots of Halloween can most likely be traced back to Ireland. Many historians believe it evolved from Samhain, a festival celebrated by the Celts at the beginning of autumn, which they considered their New Year. The festivities lasted a week and were led by local druids. Samhain night fell right in the middle of this week, belonging neither to the past year nor the upcoming one. It was a mysterious night when communication with the “other world” was possible, and fire played a central role in gathering the masses.
This festival later overlapped with Christian traditions, especially All Saints’ Day, which originated from a commemoration of all martyrs established in Rome in 613. Was it mere coincidence? Not quite, as some historians believe the date was specifically chosen to Christianise the Celtic populations.
So why do many think of Halloween as an American holiday? This tradition was, of course, carried across the Atlantic. Particularly with the Great Irish Famine in 1845, and the subsequent arrival of two million unfortunate souls on the east coast of America, all seeking a better future. The name ‘Halloween’ is a contraction of “All Hallows’ Eve” in Old English, translating to “the eve of all saints” or “All Saints’ Eve”.
Why do we dress up for Halloween?
Every festival, to withstand the test of time, needs symbols. Halloween has plenty. Originally, the main symbol was a turnip containing a candle. This commemorated the legend of Jack-o’-lantern, a soul condemned to wander eternally in the darkness between heaven and hell, using a burning coal placed inside a turnip for light. Over time, the turnip was replaced by the pumpkin, with its carving mainly popularised by Americans.
How did this festival become so terrifying? In an interview with the French magazine L’Obs, Nadine Cretin, a festival historian, explains: “Halloween evolved into what we know today when it merged with the cultures of the southern US and Mexico. Upon encountering the Mexican Day of the Dead, where the departed are celebrated with an abundance of skeletons, Halloween adopted its macabre character and the colours orange and black.”
And the costumes? It’s a relatively modern custom, but the tradition of children going from house to house seeking sweets dates back to the Celts. Adults would give them treats to avoid any curses. This is the precursor to the well-known “trick or treat”, which translates in French to “sweets or a spell”.
Where do we really celebrate Halloween in Europe?
While Halloween continues to enjoy massive popularity in the US as previously mentioned, it’s also becoming increasingly celebrated in Europe.
In Ireland, traditions are held dear. Barmbrack, a bread filled with raisins (pictured below), remains the staple food in every household during Halloween. The game of “snap apple” is still played, where participants, blindfolded, try to take a bite of an apple. For tourists – or locals looking to rediscover their city – there’s an option to take a walking tour of Dublin’s spookiest sites (lasting 1h30). For the purists, they head to the Puca Festival in Meath County (North-West) on Ireland’s ancestral lands to explore the origins of Halloween or to the fortified city of Derry for the Derry Halloween.
In England, the tradition is also solidifying, perhaps at the expense of another celebration, Guy Fawkes Night on November 5th. As October 31st nears, major shops drape themselves in spider webs, and children venture out on the fateful night to ask for sweets.
In France, Germany, and Switzerland, while the celebration is also gaining popularity, it finds some roots in local traditions. “In Germany, there’s the lantern procession by children on the eve of St. Martin’s Day, November 10th. These children carry lanterns, which in the past were made from hollowed-out vegetables,” historian Nadine Cretin explained in L’Obs. In Northern France, this tradition resonates with the procession of allumoirs, a festival marking the return of evenings where, long ago, the work of weavers was done by lamp light.
In Belgium, there are traditions similar to the hollowed-out turnip practice in Ireland. In Flanders, during St. Martin’s Day on November 11th, children carve out holes in beets to make grimacing faces illuminated by a candle placed inside the vegetable. A similar practice can also be found in Wallonia. However, these traditions are waning as Halloween becomes more prevalent among the young and older generations.
As you can see, Halloween is not purely American after all. You might now perceive it more as having deeply European roots. And it provides a great reason to come together and have fun, just a short time before the Christmas festivities.