The University News

Issue date: 10/26/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Melissa Oribhabor "Historically, I have no idea why people dress up [for Halloween], but now it's because it's fun. My friend Rachel and I are going as Super Mario and Princess Peach. However, I'm going to be Princess Peach. It's going to be gender bending. We're changing it to 'Princess Mario' and 'Super Peach.'" (Wick Thomas)

Media Credit: Melissa Oribhabor "I'm going as Lady Gaga [for Halloween]. [Historically] people dress up to scare away spirits." (Miranda Madrueno)

Media Credit: Melissa Oribhabor "[People dress up for Halloween] because everybody likes to play dress up, whether they want to admit it or not. I'm going as a fried egg [for Halloween]. I have a giant felt costume with a giant yoke in the middle. It looks funny from afar." (Josie Tyre)

While some might think their costumes are original, the tradition of Halloween goes back thousands of years.

The holiday dates back to the time of the Celts, who lived about 2,000 years ago in the area now known as northern France, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The traditions come from the Celtic festival of Samhain, celebrated on the night of Oct. 31, which is when the Celts thought the ghosts of the dead returned to the earth.

They thought the presence of the spirits made it easier for the priests to predict the future. The prophecies provided comfort for the long, cold winters that often brought death and devastation.

The Celts built fires, burnt crops and animals, wore costumes and attempted to tell each other's fortunes.

In some ways, the Celts' celebrations are similar to common-day New Year's Eve celebrations, because Nov. 1 was the first day of their year.

The Romans conquered most of the Celts territory by 43 A.D. and combined Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans commemorated the passing of the dead, with Samhain.

It is said that in the 800s, Pope Boniface IV designated Nov. 1 All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs, in an attempt to get rid of the pagan holidays.

But later, All Saints' Day was moved to Nov. 2.

Over the years, the name of Samhain was changed to All Hallows Eve, which became Halloween.

Thus, 2,000 years later, we dress up like supernatural creatures and trot door-to-door plotting mischief.

Instead of offering sacrifices to gods, we offer candy to the spooky creatures who come begging.

As in ancient times when the Celts had the choice of appeasing the gods with sacrifices or suffering a long winter, we too have the choice of "trick or treat."

Alexia Stout-Lang, News Editor, contributed to this story.

kwilson@unews.com

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