Samhain (pronounced SOW-in) is one of the most ancient and significant festivals in Celtic tradition, marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, or the “darker half” of the year.Celebrated from sunset on October 31 to sunset on November 1, Samhain was considered the Celtic New Year, a time of transition from light to darkness, life to death.
Communities lit massive sacred bonfires to ward off evil spirits and offer sacrifices to deities. People would walk between two fires for purification and protection.To avoid being recognized or harmed by wandering spirits, people wore disguises or “guises,” a practice that evolved into modern Halloween costumes.
Samhain was also a time for prophecy and fortune-telling, as the spiritual energy of the day was believed to enhance psychic abilities.As Christianity spread, Samhain traditions were absorbed into All Saints’ Day (November 1) and All Souls’ Day (November 2), blending pagan and Christian practices.
Samhain was always believed to be a liminal time when the veil between the living and spirit worlds was thinnest, allowing spirits, ancestors, and otherworldly beings to cross over and interact with the living. Food played a central role in this sacred time: feasts were held, and offerings were left outside homes to appease spirits and honor ancestors:
Offerings to Spirits: Families would leave out food and drink—often fruits, nuts, and baked goods—as offerings to ancestral spirits or wandering souls. This practice was meant to honor the dead and appease any mischievous or malevolent entities.Soul Cakes & Hospitality: In later Christianized versions of Samhain, like All Souls’ Day, people baked “soul cakes” and gave them to children and the poor in exchange for prayers for the dead. This practice evolved into “souling,” a precursor to trick-or-treating.
Seasonal Sweets: While not candy in the modern sense, Samhain feasts included sweetened breads, fruit preserves, and nuts—treats that were both celebratory and symbolic of the harvest’s end.
Over centuries, these traditions merged with Christian and later American customs.The tradition of eating candy on Halloween is a relatively modern development that evolved alongside the practice of trick-or-treating.
Early Trick-or-Treating (1930s–1940s): When trick-or-treating first gained popularity in the U.S., children received a variety of treats—homemade cookies, fruit, nuts, coins, and small toys—not just candy
Candy Takes Over (1950s): As the tradition grew, candy companies saw an opportunity. They began marketing their products specifically for Halloween, promoting candy as a convenient and affordable treat for trick-or-treaters
Safety and Convenience (1970s): Concerns about food safety led to a shift toward individually wrapped, factory-made candies. This solidified candy’s dominance as the go-to Halloween treat.
By the 20th century, especially in the U.S., candy replaced homemade treats due to convenience, safety concerns, and heavy marketing by candy companies. But the spirit of sharing sweet offerings during a liminal, magical time? That’s pure Samhain.
Photo credit Samhain: The Fire at Tlachtga and Mercury News
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