For years, I’ve been driven by curiosity to learn about the origins of paganism and its impact on our culture and festivals. While researching paganism, I discovered that many of the traditions and holidays we observe today may have their roots in it.

It is important to understand that pagan practices went beyond worshipping idols or sacrificing people to please a deity. It also included other sinister activities that many people are unaware of today. Paganism was popularized by ancient civilizations, including the Babylonians, and further spread through the Roman Empire’s adoption of various deities and practices from conquered territories. As Christianity gained momentum, the Edict of Milan (313 AD) allowed pagan practices to coexist, eventually influencing Christian rituals.

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The Roman Catholic Church then played an important role in converting pagan traditions into Christian practices, which influenced global celebrations and customs. One notable example of this blend is Halloween, a holiday with ancient pagan roots that evolved through Roman and Christian influences to become a global phenomenon.

How Halloween came about

The origins of Halloween can be traced back to the Celtic festival of Samhain, marking the transition from the harvest season to winter. Observed from October 31st to November 1st in what is now the UK, Ireland, and northern France, Samhain signified the Celtic New Year and the blurring of boundaries between the living and the dead.

During this time, the Celts believed spirits of the deceased could return to the world of the living. To honor their ancestors and ward off malevolent spirits, the Celts would leave food and drink offerings and light bonfires to symbolize life, purification, and protection. These rituals aimed to guide spirits back to the afterlife and protect the living.

The Celts further protected themselves from malevolent spirits by wearing costumes and masks to blend in with the spirits, while also practicing divination rituals using apples and nuts to glimpse the future. By honoring their ancestors and embracing the cycle of life and death, the Celts acknowledged Samhain’s significance – a time when the veil between worlds was at its thinnest. This critical transition in the Celtic calendar marked the end of summer and the onset of winter, holding deep cultural and spiritual meaning.

The ancient Roman festivals of Pomona and Feralia, celebrated from October 31 to November 2, shared similarities with Celtic practices, including leaving offerings for the dead to honor their memories and appease spirits. This ancestor worship was a common feature of ancient Roman religion and may have influenced modern-day trick-or-treating.

As the Roman Empire expanded, its customs merged with Celtic traditions, and later, the early Christian church incorporated elements of these pagan festivals into All Souls’ Day on November 2. Over time, All Souls’ Day blended with the Celtic festival of Samhain, evolving into the modern holiday of Halloween, which combines traditions from ancient cultures.

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As Christianity spread throughout Europe and beyond, the Catholic Church established All Saints’ Eve on November 1st to honor deceased saints and martyrs. Over time, this festival merged with Samhain traditions, evolving into the Halloween we know today. The tradition of wearing costumes, for instance, originated from the Celtic practice of disguising oneself as spirits to ward off malevolent entities. Initially, jack-o’-lanterns were crafted from turnips to symbolize spirits returning from the afterlife.

Today, Halloween is celebrated globally with diverse traditions and customs. In Mexico, the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) honors deceased loved ones with vibrant altars and offerings. Similarly, Japan’s Obon Festival pays tribute to ancestors with lanterns and dances, while China’s Hungry Ghost Festival involves offerings to appease wandering evil spirits.

Conclusion

It is not surprising that the Bible urged us to avoid the ways of the world, given that many of the things that have been incorporated into its way of life are associated with evil practices.  Finally, I advise you not to emulate the ways of the pagans. Because a friend of the world is an enemy of God.

Sources

Herodotus. (c. 440 BCE). The histories. Retrieved from https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Hdt.

Pliny the Elder. (77 CE). Naturalis historia (W. H. S. Jones, Trans.). Retrieved from https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Plin.+Nat.

Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.). Eostre. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eostre-Germanic-deity

The Smithsonian Magazine. (n.d.). The seven-day week and its history. The Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/seven-day-week-180972569/

Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.). Gregorian calendar. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/Gregorian-calendar