Diving into the significance of Halloween

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Halloween was believed to have originated over 2000 years ago among the Celtic people of ancient Britain and Ireland. With links to Samhain, a festival celebrated by the Celtics, Halloween, or All Hallows-Eve back then, would celebrate the final harvest of late summer. 

In Celtic mythology, the bridge between the natural and spiritual world would thin, which made interactions between both worlds possible. To evade the spirits from entering the normal world, people would light jack-o’-lanterns with scary faces to ward off the spirits.

However, the holiday has evolved over time into a day where individuals dress in their favorite costumes, carve pumpkins, and go trick-or-treating. Current pop culture has impacted the holiday to emphasize candy-collecting. As a popular children’s holiday, Halloween lets individuals dress up as their favorite characters and enjoy the day.

Although the traditional elements of Halloween like lighting bonfires are less celebrated, the holiday still fosters a sense of community through celebrations together.

In modern times, Halloween pumpkin carvings of jack-o’-lanterns are done as a family activity rather than a way to ward off evil spirits. (Photo/Toby Ord – Wikimedia Commons)

Nicholas, a sophomore at American Heritage, is excited to write with the Patriot Post for a second year. With a passion for writing and science, he often creates poetry or performs science research. His favorite hobbies are listening to different kinds of music, collecting albums, and figure skating. Outside of writing-related activities, he participates actively in extracurriculars ranging from Dead Poet’s Society to Key Club to tennis. He hopes to positively impact others through writing by promoting creativity and inspiring future generations!