3.1

NEWS

The Norwich Guidon
October 30, 2003

Halloween history grounded in traditions, legends

By Shauna Rustici
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

Every year, on the night of Oct. 31, the streets of America are transformed into a playground for the unusual.

A variety of strange visions can be found, from werewolves and witches, to princesses, to a miniature version of the President of the United States.

Almost every porch has its light on, welcoming these creatures to ring the bell; houses are decorated; laughter can be heard; and bemused parents follow along behind goblins and movie characters. It's Halloween.

Today, Halloween is one of the largest commercial holidays, second only to Christmas.

According to the National Retail Federation, "consumers plan to spend roughly $44 per household this year on Halloween candy, costumes, and decorations."

Americans spend about $6.9 million dollars each year on Halloween, according to the NRF.

Despite its modern popularity, few people know the history of the holiday.

"Halloween dates back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain," says the History Channel Web site.

On the ancient Celtic calendar the New Year began of Nov. 1. The night before the new year, it was believed that the "boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred."

During the celebration of Samhain, the Celts would dress in costume, typically using animal skins.

During the 400-year Roman occupation of Celtic lands, two Roman holidays were incorporated into Samhain. One was Feralia, which commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a festival in honor of Ponoma. "The symbol of Ponoma is the apple and probably explains the tradition of bobbing for apples that is practiced today," according to the site.

Eventually, Christianity also influenced the holiday. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface the IV designated Nov. 1 "All Saints Day," which is a holiday honoring the saints and martyrs of the church.

It is believed today that "the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday," according to the History Channel.

This holiday was also called All-hallows, and the night before began to be called All-Hallows Eve.

It was celebrated with "big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils.

As immigrants came to America, Halloween traditions blended into the uniquely American holiday that exists today.

In the 20th century Halloween is one of the principal holidays, particularly with children, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. Borrowing from Irish and English tradition, Americans dressed up in costumes and went door-to-door asking for money, a tradition that soon became the modern day trick-or-treating, according to the History Channel.

After a problem with vandalism "town leaders successfully limited vandalism, and Halloween had evolved into a holiday directed mainly at the young," says the History Channel.

Although Halloween may appear to be strictly a children's holiday, according to American Demographic, 65 percent of adults will participate in Halloween activities.

The Norwich Guidon is a twice-monthly student newspaper distributed at Norwich University. It provides laboratory experience for students in the Communications program. Claims asserted by letter writers, editorials and other articles do not represent the positions of Norwich University. The Norwich Guidon welcomes signed letters to the editor. They should be no longer than 300 words. Unsigned letters will not be printed, but names may be withheld upon worthy request. All letters are subject to editing for length and good taste. Mailing address: The Norwich Guidon, Communications Center, Norwich University, Northfield, VT 056632. www.norwich.edu/guidon. If you have any questions or comments about the paper, please contact Professor Ken Bush at kbush@norwich.edu.