Stuck In Halloween Mode

“Eye of newt, and toe of frog, Wool of bat, and tongue of dog”

“Adder’s fork, and blind-worm’s sting, Lizard’s leg, and owlet’s wing”

“For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and babble”

“Double, double, toil and trouble, Fire burn, and caldron bubble”
William Shakespeare

Ah, I love Halloween!  I remember Halloween… Costumes, masks, jack-o’-lanterns, pumpkins, apples, bats, black cats and trick or treat… October 31.  I remember costume parties, haunted attractions, scary stories, and horror films. But, where did it all start?

The ancient Celts believed that on the day separating the lighter half of the year from the darker months (October 31st), the boundary between the living world and the underworld is thin, allowing spirits to pass through. These spirits were believed to be both harmless and harmful. To ward off the bad spirits, people dressed up in costumes and masks. They believed you could protect yourself from evil spirits by disguising yourself as one. Thus, they dressed as monsters, ghosts, skeletons, witches, and devils.

Bonfires were used in the Celtic Samhain festival. Jack-o’-lanterns derive from the Celtic practice of carving turnips into candle lanterns. Bobbing for apples can be traced to the Celtic tradition that whoever bites the apple first will be the first to marry, observed during the festival.

Legends tell of witches gathering twice a year when the seasons changed, on April 30 – the eve of May Day and the eve of October 31 (All Hallow’s Eve).  On these nights, the witches gathered to celebrate. Superstitions told of witches casting spells and transforming into different forms. It was said that to meet a witch at midnight, you had to put your clothes on wrong side out and walk backwards on Halloween night. Native Americans also believed in witches, and the African slaves brought beliefs in  black magic. Black cats have been associated with witches. It was believed that witches could change into cats, and some people believed cats were the spirits of the dead. If a black cat crosses your path you have to turn around and go back or bad luck will strike you.

In Halloween’s ancient origins, people gathered around bonfires to ward off evil spirits, hungry bats, attracted to the small flying insects, flickered in and out of the firelight, becoming a part of Halloween lore. With the discovery of the Vampire Bat in the 17th century, tales of bats that drank blood circulated, creating a natural association to the dark holiday.

Oh yes, I love Halloween!  Happy Halloween!