When you think Halloween, it’s hard not to picture candy corn (gross, but iconic), kids in overpriced costumes, and jack-o’-lanterns grinning like they just got their student loans forgiven. But this spooky celebration, now pretty much an American pastime, wasn’t born in the aisles of Spirit Halloween stores. Nope, it started as a Celtic tradition before America slapped its commercial magic all over it and exported it worldwide like a Marvel movie.
Where It All Began: Ireland’s Spooky Roots
Halloween’s original roots trace back to Samhain (pronounced “sow-in”—because of course the Celts couldn’t make it easy), an ancient Celtic festival that marked the end of the harvest season in Ireland. The Celts believed that on October 31st, the boundary between the living and the dead became, shall we say, a little thin. To keep any wandering spirits at bay, they’d light massive bonfires and don costumes—probably doubling as a solid excuse for some much-needed group bonding (what else was there to do in ancient Ireland, really?). While modern Ireland is still big on Halloween festivities, today you’re more likely to find kids bobbing for apples than fending off evil spirits.
And if you think America knows how to throw a Halloween party, you haven’t seen what goes down in the country where it all began. Ireland might just be giving the U.S. a run for its money with their mix of ancient tradition and contemporary spookiness.
England: Bonfires and Ghosts, Please
Across the pond in England, Halloween is like the quiet cousin who only shows up for the food. Guy Fawkes Night (November 5) traditionally took the main stage with its bonfires and fireworks, but thanks to America’s influence, Halloween is gaining momentum. Think haunted house tours, fancy dress (that’s ‘costumes’ in Brit-speak), and lots of ghost stories. The English still love their gothic lit and ghostly folklore, and let’s be honest—they really do haunted better than anyone.
And the best part? England’s got the perfect setting for Halloween festivities. Many of its neighborhoods look like they were plucked straight from a Harry Potter film—basically built-in spook factor, no extra decorations required. […]
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