Interestingly, there are a ton of Halloween superstitions and folklore. Few people know that Halloween, which is relatively new to the western culture – is actually a celebration with Pagan roots. In the Gaelic calendar 2,000 years ago, today’s Halloween marked the end of the Celtic year (end of summer) and was a time of celebration and rejoice after the harvesting of crops in the preparation for winter. Many of the activities of the Halloween season today, are actually reminiscent of Pagan times, which is why many religious organizations will not participate in Halloween celebrations but opt for Fall celebrations instead. The following will help you understand some of the superstitions and myths behind Halloween and how they came into being.

• Carving Jack O Lanterns. In Pagan times, people would carve hollowed out turnips rather than pumpkins. The carving of Jack O Lanterns actually comes from an evil fable about farmer named Jack who tried to trick the devil. Doing so, he was refused entry to both Heaven and Hell and was forced to wander around the streets aimlessly for the rest of time. Pagans would carve turnips and place lights inside to help lost souls find their way home during Gaelic celebrations. And the scary faces were used back then (and possibly now) to ward off or scare away any evil spirits that may be wandering around.
• Bats and black cats. Bats are indeed sinister creatures. Ancient myths believed that if a bat flew around ones house three times, it meant someone inside would soon die. And black cats earn their spot in Halloween garb because years ago during ‘witch hunts’ many of the women had cats, that others believed were given to the women by the devil himself. Not only were the women killed, but also the cats were as well as it was believed that the devil could disguise himself as a black cat.
• Spiders! The smallest spider can make the bravest person go running for cover, and they are a common host at Halloween parties. Truth is that there are a lot of folklores revolving spiders. One says that if a spider falls into a flame of a candle, it means that witches are nearby (Good thing that rarely happens, right?). Another says that seeing a spider on Halloween means that the angels of deceased loved ones are watching over you. All in all, the worst thing about spiders is the spider web!
• Witches! Most people think of witches as evil, dark spirits that are there to cause trouble and haunt. However, the root of witches and witchcraft comes from Pagan beliefs that the ‘old one’ also called the crone – has all encompassing wisdom. The matriarchs of the past were seen as a powerful presence in families and during Pagan celebrations. Today, ‘crones’ have morphed into witches.
• Costumes. Do you ever wonder why it has become commonplace to dress up for Halloween? The costumes of the season came from the dated belief that evil spirits could dress up in costumes to trick regular folk, and cause them to have an uncertain death and eternity in hell. It was also believed that people could dress up so that evil spirits wouldn’t be able to tell them apart from the living spirits. Today, dressing up for Halloween is all about the fun of the season.
• The colors orange and black have long been associated with Halloween. In Celtic times, Pagans used orange and black to signify the turning of the leave (orange) and the death of the summer cropping season. These colors have stuck through the ages and now play a big role in Halloween celebrations.
• Trick or Treating comes from a tradition of mischief night. In ancient times, Halloween night was about having a festival where people often played pranks on one another. In the early 1900’s as Halloween was taking shape for the western world, there were many criminal acts taking place on Mischief night. So people started handing out treats to sort of turn around the events of Halloween into a positive fun induced environment.
• Candy corn! Candy corn was invented in the late 1800’s as a way to celebrate the large corn crops that were harvested during the summer months.
• Candles burning out! It was once believed that if a candle burned out by itself with no ‘real’ reason to extinguish, it meant that you had a ghost in your home. This is a good reason NOT to burn candles at all!

There are dozens upon dozens of other Halloween superstitions and myths. The truth is that today, most people are just out looking to have a little fun and indulge their tendency to play make believe and dress up. The celebration today, is also a massive money making ploy for the retail business and helps to spark holiday shopping. But most of all, Halloween is just plain, good old-fashioned fun. Unless of course, you hear 3 knocks on your door and no one is there when you go to answer it. That of course means that your death is imminent.

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The Pagan Origins of Halloween

Halloween is technically a celebration of the evening before All Saints’ Day. According to old European tradition, this is the night when spirits are most likely to make contact with the living, and magic is at its most powerful. The Pagan roots of this holiday have turned the tradition into a political and spiritual debate, with some devout Christian communities attempting to abolish the holiday because of its origins.

Pagan celebrations have nothing to do with the devil or the worshipping of evil. Paganism is a religion that follows the natural rhythms of the world, and though it can seem mysterious to those who don’t understand it, it is far from dangerous. It is also not associated with Satanism, which worships the theories and practices of the Devil. Paganism, on the other hand, connects with nature and the natural world’s cycles. Despite the similarity in names, the two belief systems are quite different.

Despite resistance to this long-practiced holiday in some places, Halloween is rapidly gaining popularity worldwide, with each country adding its own cultural twists. Ireland, Peru, the United Kingdom, and Canada are all joining in the celebrations, and New Zealand and Australia are quickly following suit.

In Ireland, adults and children alike dress as the scary creatures they wish to avoid, such as ghosts, goblins, witches, and monsters. The celebration marks the end of summer with a grand bonfire, and despite fireworks being mostly illegal, a stunning display is still common.

Children in Ireland are given a week-long holiday from school for Halloween, unlike American children, who attend school all week, including the day of. Apple bobbing, cakes with tokens baked inside, pumpkin and turnip carving with candles for decoration, and weeklong festivities are central to Halloween traditions in Ireland.

Scottish children share most of the same Halloween customs as their Irish neighbors, though they focus on scaring away evil fairies with their costumes and turnip carvings. One of the most popular games is hanging an apple from a string and challenging children to eat it without using their hands.

In Australia and New Zealand, Halloween is gradually gaining popularity. Originally seen as a “nonsensical Americanism,” Irish settlers are introducing the holiday’s meaning and traditions to local communities. Some Australians embrace the idea, while others view it as an American influence spreading through media. Those few youths who do participate in trick-or-treating often do so with the intent to egg houses that don’t participate or to vandalize churches and schools. It seems some information has spread, but not always in the right way.

The Caribbean islands are also starting to join in the celebration, though Halloween is still not widely observed. Every year, the region sees about a three percent increase in participation.

Many regions view Halloween as part of North American pop culture, despite its Irish roots. In America, Halloween continues to be a beloved tradition. Dressing up to ward off evil spirits, whether real or imagined, provides a fun and reasonable way to face the fears associated with the uncontrollable evils of the world. This is, after all, the essence of Halloween.

Though Halloween customs are slowly fading in the United States, there may be another surge in popularity due to the growing educational impact of multimedia. Those who learn about the true roots of Halloween, the spirit of Paganism, and the holiday’s deeper meaning often find themselves eager to celebrate it. As the internet continues to provide easy access to information, it’s only a matter of time before the value of self-education makes it simpler and more accurate than ever before.

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Even worse, is the fact that many people seem to be offended (or frightened) by young adults and pre-teens knocking on the door hovering over toddlers in princess dresses to get a free hand out of Halloween candy? Some are rude to the kids that appear too old to be trick or treating, turning them away. Others, hand out the candy with a begrudged huff wondering where the hell parental discretion has gone.

This dilemma has not gone unnoticed. In many towns across the United States, mayors and governments have been considering passing down laws that children over the age of 12 will not be allowed to trick or treat. The problem of course is enforcement, and in many cases, there are 10 and 11 year olds that look much older than their birthday suggests. Even so, kids over this age limit would be given fines, up to $100, if caught accepting candy from behind the mask of a super hero. And parents seem to be split about the issue.

Many parents feel that children should be allowed to be children as long as they want to be. The hard-core truth is that the fancies of childhood disappear all too quickly on their own, so why push the issue? There are certainly plenty of pre-teens in this world that want to trick or treat each year, and feel no shame in accepting candy during this holiday.

Is it really okay for society to decide that they have to grow up faster?

Another issue is the fact that many parents don’t regulate their children’s behaviors and don’t really care or have suitable rules about trick or treating in place in their homes. Then, these children go out and cause mischief, showing up at doors with little more than eye shadow as a costume, and ruin the entire holiday for the rest of the kids. Mandating ages helps to eliminate this problem, and ends the guesswork of deciding if your child is too old or not to go out Halloweening.

And sure, the only a reason that plenty of high schoolers would want to trick or treat is to score some free snacks and engage in the whimsy and trickery of the holiday itself. These children, out haunting the streets and up to no good, should definitely not be deemed acceptable, especially when so many toddlers are out as well. But you have to be honest for a moment. Think back to your own middle school (even high school) days. Did you trick or treat? Sure, a door or two may have been slammed in your face or some wise cracking neighbor may have given you shaving cream and a razor instead of candy, but you and your friends went anyways, right? It was all about having fun.

Most communities do set up fun activities for older children on Halloween night. And if your child doesn’t see the harm in dressing up and going out and you are concerned that they are either too old, or will face criticism (or teasing) then you might be keen to host a Halloween party of your own. This way your child will still get to celebrate Halloween, but will not be faced with judgment from others, including neighborhood households who may think your child is too old to be out trick or treating. This solution also works well because it allows your child to celebrate the holiday in a child like manner that is appropriate for their age.

Truth be told, most kids decide on their own when they are too old to trick or treat. You might be surprised that as early as 5th grade, the bulk of kids begin deciding on their own, that they are too old to indulge in the trickery or Halloween. For parents, this can come as a complete shock and surprise and a major indicator that your child is growing up. Some parents push the envelope as far as possible, hoping that they can squeeze yet one more year out of the infamous dress up. If your child does not want to participate, then you know that they are too old to trick or treat, and you should not force them to participate. The bottom line is that the decision should be made by both parents and children, utilize common sense and be based on what is deemed acceptable in the locale that you live in.

But before you ban your child from gracing the streets in costume, and before you get frustrated that a bigger kid showed up at your door to collect candy, think about this. Children are only children once. 12, 13, even 14 years old are truly not that old. Many kids need an excuse like Halloween, to reconnect with that magical feeling that only exists in the world of a child. If your child wants to participate in good, wholesome fun – is there really anything wrong with that? Before you know it, these kids will be in the real world, facing real world challenges and will be stricken from the world of whimsy, magic and make believe.

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But boy has Halloween changed. Back in the day, costumes were hand made and creative, often simple. Today, Halloween costumes can include anything from Zombies and aliens and horror film characters to sexy maids, Disney characters, and evil villains. And apparently, the shift in costumes and the ghouly nature of the holiday has a lot of schools canceling and changing Halloween festivities. Additionally, in many places Halloween is basically cancelled altogether and parents are only allowed to bring ‘fall items’ (no black cats, ghosts, or spooky garb or even witches) to decorate at preschool parties due to religious beliefs and worries about censorship.

In fact, if you have visited any of the overnight pop-up Halloween stores that open their doors at the beginning of October, you might be leery of bringing a child inside to search for an Elsa costume due to the graphic and gory and often X-Rated nature of some of the items in stock.

For a multitude of reasons, schools have taken charge and most have some sort of parameters in line for what kids are allowed and not allowed to wear or represent during Halloween. In the US, many schools altogether have banned costumes, even in the elementary grades, and changed the theme to simple black and orange dress up day. The majority of school also ban items like guns, or swords or face paint or frightening masks from the Halloween agenda in a dire attempt to keep the holiday fun, kid friendly and un-offensive to any one who may disagree. This prompts many families to buy two costumes. One for trick or treating and another for school/church functions.

Certainly, rules are necessary, but are these rules and guidelines both necessary and justified? After all, it’s Halloween. Shouldn’t kids and parents be able to get knee deep in the festivities and play a little make-believe without worrying about rules? Isn’t it all in good fun?

The reality is that as children’s exposure has changed, so has the theme of Halloween. Where years ago typical costumes were a Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, a witch, a TV character, cowboys and Indians – today kids are dressing up as mass murderers, devils and frightening creatures. Worse, are some of the costumes marketed to young girls violate dress codes and are certainly more on the sexy side than they are on the fun side. With the availability of so many different costumes, and exposure to video game violence and characters from horror movies, dressing up for Halloween has become a crapshoot for schools and organizations trying to keep the holiday fun and kid friendly. What schools do not want, is KID A being terrified by KID B who dressed up as a devil. Schools do not want PARENT A calling news media because PARENT B allowed their son to bring a small fake revolver to school as part of his cowboy outfit. And certainly, they don’t want FAMILY A to be offended due to religious beliefs by a costume that the kid from FAMILY B wore to school. Kids are certainly a product of their environment and Halloween costumes are one day of the year that you can get a look inside the homes of others to see what is considered normal and acceptable in their home.

In many ways, due to careless decision-making by parents who allow their kids to dress scantily, or in costumes that somehow violate the comfort zone of society as well as parents who are desperately trying to keep their children sheltered and feel their religious or personal beliefs take precedence – schools have had no choice but to impose some limits. Halloween has become a case of trying to please everyone, which has slowly but surely whittled away at the freedom kids of yesterday were offered during this time of year. And as a society as our desire for ultimate political correctness increases, it probably won’t be long before schools and youth organizations opt out of Halloween altogether.

Like most things, Halloween is what you make of it. If you ask your children, they are just thrilled for the opportunity to dress up and get free candy. For them, the holiday is still simple. Parents are typically the ones who complicate the holiday and force school systems to take some sort of action as a whole, rather than deal with problems on a case-by-case basis. In so many ways, it’s a shame that a cowboy can’t holster on a fake gun for the holiday, or a little girl cannot dress up as a scary witch without some sort of ramification. Its also a shame that schools have had to take a stand, on what is innocently and simply a fun, exciting and creative time for children to explore their imagination and pick up a little candy along the way.

What do you think? Are schools going too far? Is it really their responsibility to monitor and apply guidelines for what is considered acceptable costumes for Halloween, or are parents fully capable of making these decisions?

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Origins of Halloween

Ireland is the birthplace of Samhain (pronounced sow-in), the occasion that we now recognize as Halloween. Ancient Celts originally observed Samhain at the first frost, which usually fell near the end of October. Samhain was an agricultural fire festival dedicated to the harvest and the dead that marked the end of summer and the impending start of winter. The time of Samhain was used to take stock of food supplies and to decide which animals should be slaughtered to ensure the survival of the people through the winter. When assessing their needs for the upcoming cold season, the Celts sought the assistance of the Sídhe, or spirits, whom they believed appeared during Samhain. People lit large bonfires and, to ward off evil spirits, would cast into the fires the bones of the animals they had slaughtered.

In 835 AD, Pope Gregory IV moved the Christian observance of All Saints’ Day from the spring to November 1. There is some disagreement as to why, but he may have been trying to Christianize pagan celebrations of the dead, which, with the adoption of the Roman calendar, had started being held every year on the same date – October 31. Because of this overlap between pagan and Christian traditions, the festival of the dead became closely associated with the seemingly contradictory festival of saints.

When the Irish immigrated to North America in the mid-nineteenth century following the Potato Famine, the traditions of Samhain came with them, later becoming Halloween.

Halloween Traditions

Halloween continues to be very popular in Ireland. In many areas it is still customary to set a place for the dead at the Samhain feast table. Both adults and children dress up as ghosts, ghouls, goblins, zombies and witches. Children visit their neighbors to gather treats. The tradition is slightly different in Scotland, where children must perform in some way to receive a “treat.” This Scottish custom may have led to North American “trick or treating.”

Bobbing for apples, a Halloween game sometimes played in North America, originated with Samhain. The Celts associated apples with the goddess of love and believed that the first person to catch an apple was the next person to get married.

The jack o’ lantern has an interesting history. The name comes from an Irish legend about a farmer named Jack who marked a cross on a tree to trap the devil in it. He agreed to release the devil if the devil promised never to let Jack into Hell. At his death, the devil indeed denied Jack entry to Hell. With his past behavior ensuring that Heaven was not an option, Jack was left with nowhere to go. He carved a lantern from a turnip (a common practice in Britain) and walked the earth looking for a resting place. He became known as “Jack of the Lantern.”

It is believed by many people that the Irish used jack o’lanterns to ward off evil spirits at Halloween, but this claim is being disputed by some historians who believe that the association between carved pumpkins and Halloween emerged in North America. North Americans were in the habit of carving pumpkin lanterns at the time of harvest. In the 1830’s the term “jack o’lantern” started being used to describe these lanterns, and their association with Halloween began about 30 years after that. The term is not commonly used outside of North America.

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Unfortunately, for a young a child however – Halloween and all the dressing up, tricks and pranks associated with it can also be a frightening endeavor. It is entirely up to parents to utilize common sense and to take cues from their child so that they don’t become overly scared during Halloween activities.

If your child is under the age of 8, you should partake in Halloween activities that celebrate the fall season, and the happy insignias of the holiday such as pumpkins, scarecrows, happy looking bats, cute black kittens and other non-spooky symbols of Halloweens. While you may be looking forward to taking your child to their first haunted house, or haunted trail – doing so too early, can come with grave consequences of sleepless nights for you.

Experts also recommend that adults talk with young children about Halloween leading up to the big day. Explain to them that just as they are enjoying dressing up as a fire fighter, their favorite princess or super-hero, there are other people that like to dress up as scary characters. The point is, that children should understand that the costumes and make-up are pretend. Children seem to come naturally into this world with tentativeness to ghostly themes and ghoulish creatures. Many shows, even those designated for young children normally have a ‘bad guy’ or nemesis. Just like the sneaky fox on Dora is not a REAL threat, neither are the people dressing up as vampires and such.

There are a few ways to avoid freaking your children out completely during Halloween. One way, is to make sure that you take the little ones trick or treating early in the night, even before it is completely dark. Most of the older kids who dress up in scary costumes like to come out after the sun has gone completely down. You can also consider going to a Trunk or Treat being hosted by a local church or organization, where kids trick or treat in a festival style rather than going house to house in their neighborhood. Festivals, often held in the center of town where business owners hand out candy and take pictures, have bounce houses and do face painting is another great way to celebrate the festivities in an age appropriate way. Additionally, some homeowners go all out when it comes to adding the spooks and chills factor to their delivery of the candy. If you see a house playing creepy music, with dry ice smoke and hear other kids screaming or running from the door – maybe this is a house you should skip until your child is older. After all, they have plenty of time to enjoy the more ‘adult’ aspects of Halloween!

Of course, Halloween and the approaching fall season is also a great time for families to visit a pumpkin patch, take a hayride, attend a bonfire, or walk in a corn maze as well. Plan an outdoor family party and have everyone dress up as their favorite character. Hold a costume contest at home. If you are part of a group of parents that have small children, rather than going trick or treating, you may consider hosting a Halloween themed party that is completely kid friendly and where you know that your children will be surrounded with people that you trust.

The sheer idea of filling up a bucket of candy, getting to play dress-up, going to school wearing a tiara, or wielding a magic shield is enough to get any young child excited. Even so, it is important that parents teach their children to have manners, especially if they are going door-to-door trick or treating. Tell them to say please and thank you, and to only accept (or take) one piece of candy from the host. Also, as a safety pre-caution instruct your children that they should not open and eat any candy that they receive until mom and dad have time to check the loot when they get home. Any candies that look unwrapped, or re-wrapped, or that are not sealed in original packaging should be thrown away. Trick or treating in neighborhoods where you know most of the people is the safest way to ensure that you are receiving safe treats!

If you have a baby who cannot walk yet, it doesn’t mean that you aren’t able to celebrate your child’s First Halloween together. Even so, realize that carrying your 6-month-old baby around on your shoulder in full costume (while they are likely screaming because they hate the lion hate or itchiness of their costume) and collecting candy that they likely are not even able to eat yet, makes you look sort of the fool. In this case, allow your child to dress up, take lots of pictures, visit with neighbors, hope that some people have lollipops and wait until they are a little older to fully introduce them to all the fun and thrills that Halloween has to offer.

Done right, and keeping age consideration in mind – every Halloween, after your child’s first Halloween can be an exciting time of year for your family. Whatever you do, avoid trying to push your child into situations that may frighten them, or that they are not old enough to understand.

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