Witches, ghosts, monsters… and now zombies join Halloween. This Anglo-Saxon celebration, held on the night of October 31st, has Celtic origins; it dates back over 2,500 years and is closely related to transhumance. Our friends from ActitudFem share some interesting facts about this date. The story goes as follows: when the Celtic year ended at the end of summer, on October 31st of our calendar, livestock was brought from the pastures to the stables to spend the winter. During this last day, known as Samhain, it was believed that spirits would rise from the cemeteries and possess the bodies of the living to resurrect, ask for food, and curse them. Moreover, if their requests were not granted, evil spirits would make them victims of tricks with the famous phrase: “give me something or I’ll pull a prank on you,” the "Trick or Treat" we all know.

A celebration associated with the return of pagan gods

To avoid this, Celtic villages would dirty their homes and place bones, skulls, and other unpleasant objects so that the dead would pass by scared and leave them in peace. This is where the tradition of wearing costumes and decorating homes with sinister motifs on the current All Hallows' Eve comes from. In England, it was called "All Hallows' Day," and the night before was "All Hallows' Eve," which later evolved into "Halloween".

The celebration was exported to the United States

European emigrants brought Halloween to the United States in the 19th century, around 1846. However, it did not begin to be celebrated massively until 1921. That year, the first Halloween parade was held in Minnesota, followed by other states. The internationalization of Halloween happened towards the late 70s and early 80s, thanks to film and television series. Today, American children still dress up for the occasion and roam the streets asking for candy from door to door while saying the famous "Trick or Treat". If adults give them candy, money, or any other type of reward, it is interpreted that they have accepted the deal. If, on the other hand, they refuse, the kids will play a small prank on them.

Halloween costumes

Unlike the Mexican tradition of November 1st and 2nd, which celebrates the joyful return of our loved ones, Halloween is based on fear, the living dead, black magic, and mythical monsters. The "characters" commonly associated with Halloween include ghosts, witches, black cats, goblins, banshees, zombies, and demons, as well as certain literary figures like Dracula and Frankenstein's monster. The Celts would dress in animal skins on October 31st to avoid being discovered by the spirits that, according to them, came to life that night. The traditional colors of Halloween are the black of night and the orange of the first light of day; interestingly, the same colors that the Aztecs associated with the return of their dead through the symbolism of monarch butterflies. See original article

Pumpkin and Chocolate Marble Cake

Halloween Cookies

Brain Cupcakes