Samhain, the Saints, and Spooky Season: The History of Halloween
Reading time: 6 minutes
Today, Halloween is largely celebrated as a lighthearted, secular holiday—a child-friendly carnival of candy corn and costumes. Historically, however, this has not always been the case. The traditions that have blended and morphed into what we call ‘Halloween’ were once held sacred, and to some, they continue to be.
Still, across this transformation, borne out over thousands of years, many ancient traditions endure. The tricks, treats, and trappings of our modern Halloween parties might seem eerily familiar to a Roman, a Celt, or a medieval Christian—even if the context has changed.
