The Origins of Halloween and Guy Fawkes Day

Typical Halloween Pumpkin

Early practitioners of pagan religions (usually the Celts) often get credited as being the root source of our modern day Halloween.  But this is only partially true, as a great deal of the credit actually belongs to Christianity. 

During the first century when Christianity began to spread across Europe, the Christian Church co-opted various Pagan holidays and practices because they were very popular with the population.  The decision to combine several pagan festival dates while giving them a Christian slant better enabled the transition from Paganism to Christianity.

The first holiday that would help make the Church make the transition was the widely practiced pagan holiday -  Lemuria which was held on May 13th.  It was believed that annually on this day, the dead would rise up from the grave and return as ghosts to haunt the living - unless they were placated which was done by pouring milk on their graves or offering them little cakes.  In 609 AD, the Church co-opted Lemuria and changed the name of the holiday to All Saints Day.   A day meant to honor the holiest of church saints.

The holiday was very successful, and the Roman church moved the date to November 1 and the adopted name of All Saints Day changed to All Hallows Day. The reason it was moved was for the purpose of "draining the life" of the Pagan holiday Samhain which fell on October 31. 

The result of this move was that people began referring to Samhain as All Hallows Evening.  The name then shortened to All Hallows Even and eventually shortened to Halloween.  Taking a further step, the Church created a new holiday called All Souls Day on November 2nd which was the purpose of honoring all departed Christians. 

The Church also gets credit for establishing the first Trick or Treating practice although it is not the same as the modern day Trick or Treating done by children today - but does share some resemblances.  The Catholic Church told its practitioners that many of their loved ones were not in Heaven or in Hell but stuck  in the middle in a place referred to as Purgatory.  The only way they would be granted entrance into Heaven, the Church told them, was to say enough Christian prayers for their souls so that they would rise up into Heaven.

Relatives of the dead began to seek anyone who would help say prayers to help their departed family members escape to Heaven.  The result of this was that Medieval beggars and poor people would go door to door, and for a small fee of a soul cake -  usually made up of flour, spices and raisins -  they would offer up prayers for the dead.  The significance of this tradition started by the Church is the basis for the references to death, dying, graveyards and other death-related elements found in our modern day Halloween.

Over time, the beggars became more rowdy and demanding for food and drink, and even took to wearing masks as to disguise their identities.  This further gave rise to unruly behavior and even destructive acts during Halloween night.  Over time, most of these traditions were found only in rural, country areas of Europe, and England.  But it was about to get a big boost in London.


Pro-Catholic terrorist Guy Fawkes and his conspirators

 On November 5, 1605, Guy Fawkes, a pro-Catholic terrorist, attempted to blow up the House of Lords in what was known as the Gunpowder Plot.  Guido Fawkes was caught, tried, hung, and his body drawn and quartered, and his body parts were thrown into a large bonfire in front of cheering crowds.  Each year after that and even today, the tradition of bonfires and burning Guy Fawkes in effigy is repeated. This holiday is very close to Halloween, and many of the traditions of wearing masks, begging for treats, and celebrations carried over from Halloween.

As immigrants came to America, many of them brought with them the traditions of Halloween.  Since a large majority of the immigrants came from England, and were still British subjects, Guy Fawkes Day combined with Halloween practices took hold in the Colonies, and became adopted by all Colonists.

And as immigration extended beyond Protestant Englishmen, the Guy Fawkes holiday dissipated but Halloween grew.  As expected,  traditions morphed over time to our modern day American Halloween - Jack 'O Lanterns, Headless Horsemen, Ghosts and Goblins, and masks and candy.  

Interestingly enough, over the last century, American traditions expanded outward and returned back to the place from which it came.  Although Guy Fawkes Day still remains a much larger holiday in England then Halloween, Halloween is still widely celebrated by children and adults alike.

Have a safe and happy Halloween!