Exploring the Origins of Halloween

Exploring the Origins of Halloween

Celtic Crosses in a Misty Cemetery Photo: Shutterstock

Posted October 3, 2024

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October brings us many things including colorful foliage, cooler temperatures and costumes in celebration of Halloween. While trick-or-treating has long been a tradition in the United States, the origins of Halloween lie in the ancient Celtic world.

The Celebration of Samhain

At the end of harvest and the beginning of winter, the Irish celebrated a festival known as Samhain. During this transitional time of year, they believed the lines between the worlds of the living and the dead thinned, and ghosts of the dead returned to earth. They also thought humans became more susceptible to supernatural influence. That influence came not only from ghosts but also banshees, fairies and all manner of mischievous spirits. During the festival of Samhain, they lit communal fires to ward off any evil spirits making an appearance.

Celebrated well into the 6th century, even after the introduction of Christianity, Samhain eventually became known as All Hallows Day and later Halloween. When the Irish immigrated to the United States during the Great Famine from 1845 to 1849, they brought Halloween along. And those jack-o-lanterns we love so much came along, too. But they weren’t always pumpkins.

Origins of Halloween

Halloween Traditions Photo: Shutterstock

The Story of Stingy Jack

In the ancient Celtic world, the Irish children carved out potatoes or turnips as “Jack-O-Lanterns” and placed candles inside. It all started with a man named Stingy Jack.

According to folklore, on a chilly night in a quaint Irish village, a notorious drunkard named Stingy Jack garnered fame for his trickery, which resonated through the dimly lit pubs and twisted alleys and even beyond the emerald hills. Even the Devil heard the whispers of his name.

On one fateful night, Jack invited the devil to join him for a pint at a local pub. But when the bill arrived, Stingy Jack convinced the Devil to morph into a coin as payment for the bar tab. However, instead of settling the bill, Stingy Jack pocketed the coin next to a silver cross, trapping the Devil. Desperate for release, the Devil vowed to leave Jack untouched for a year.

After the year passed, Jack’s antics continued as he cleverly persuaded the Devil to climb a gnarled old tree for a juicy, crimson apple. Once he ascended, Jack swiftly etched a cross into the rough bark, trapping the Devil once again. With a trembling voice fueled by rage and despair, the Devil vowed to leave Jack untouched for ten years. Yet, fate had other plans and Jack soon found himself facing death.
Heaven denied Stingy Jack entry for his mischievous and sinful life. And Hell, still bound by the Devil’s vow, reluctantly did the same. In a mocking gesture, the Devil tossed Jack a single burning ember from the fiery pits to light his way through eternal darkness. Jack hollowed out an old turnip, placed the ember inside and began his endless roam on earth and the Jack-O-Lantern was born.

Halloween Parade in Derry

Halloween Parade in Derry Photo: Terri Marshall

Derry’s Connection to Halloween

Located in Northern Ireland, Derry sits where the Wild Atlantic Way meets the Causeway Coastal Route. The Derry (also known as Londonderry) hosts Europe’s largest Halloween celebration attracting more than 100,000 people from all over the world. But the city’s connection to Halloween originated from an unexpected experience during Ireland’s war-torn years known as The Troubles.

In 1985, at the height of The Troubles, Brian Doherty—the owner of Doherty’s Bar on Derry’s Magazine Street—decided to throw a Halloween party. He advertised through posters and offered prizes for the best costumes. Regulars and their friends and neighbors flocked to the bar in costumes ranging from Batman to witches to nuns.

In the midst of the celebration, there was a bomb scare, and the partiers had to evacuate the premises immediately. Everyone spilled out of the bar onto the street. Eager to continue the party, the revelers headed to nearby Shipquay Street in the city center. Well-known for its bars and nightclubs, the patrons along Shipquay Street joined the costumed partygoers in the Halloween spirit in what is now considered Derry’s first Halloween parade.

The following year, nearly all the bars in the city center hosted Halloween parties. And the parade on Shipquay Street continues today.

Origins of Halloween

Halloween Inside Derry’s Ancient City Walls Photo: Terri Marshall

Celebrating Halloween in Derry

Nestled in natural beauty, Derry also has the distinction of being the only remaining completely walled city in Ireland. Constructed between 1613 and 1618, the wall forms a walkway around the inner city. When Halloween arrives, the walls awaken in an incredible spectacle attended by skeletons, witches, ghosts and you…if you dare. As they say in Derry, “Prepare to be shaken as the otherworld awakens!”

The celebration kicks off at the city’s Samhain Parade, where carnival artists, dancers, and circus performers delight residents and visitors. Haunted historic tours provide thrills and chills throughout the city. Everyone, from tiny tots to grey-haired grandpas, dresses in costumes to join in the frightful fun. On Halloween, when the walls awaken, ghosts are often seen dancing in candlelit windows. Skeletons hang out on the ancient walls, keeping watch on all who enter while witches mingle with the crowd.

Creative and creepy costumes abound. When I attended in my witch’s costume, I encountered everything and everyone from butchers gone mad to perfectly charming princesses. I even bumped into the villain who frightens me most, Michael Myers from the legendary Halloween movie series. In an attempt to overcome my fear, I asked him for a selfie. He glared at me through the slits of his horrific mask and turned to walk away. It’s clear we are never going to be friends. www.derryhalloween.com

Click here for discounted accommodations in Derry, Northern Ireland.

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  • Based in New York City, Terri Marshall is an award-winning writer covering cultural travel, multi-generational travel, food, drink, road trips, cars and characters. From hanging out with penguins in Antarctica to fishing for piranhas in Peru, Terri’s always up for an adventure. Publication credits include AARP, SheBuysTravel, Girl Camper, Island Soul, Chilled, A Girls Guide to Cars, Alaska Business Magazine, North Hills Monthly, Around Wellington and more. Connect with Terri and see more of her work and radio appearances at www.trippingwithterri.com.