The spookiest holiday of the year is almost upon us but let’s not forget where Halloween traces its roots from.
As the leaves turn crisp and the air fills with the scent of pumpkin spice (and perhaps a hint of impending doom), we find ourselves on the cusp of Halloween, a holiday that has transformed from ancient rituals to a modern-day extravaganza of costumes, candy, and questionable life choices.
READ: Here’s Why You Should Be Ordering a Manhattan This Winter
But how did we get here? Buckle up as we embark on a spirited journey through the origins of Halloween, tracing its evolution from the Celtic festival of Samhain to the global celebration of topless firefighters and slutty cats we know today.
The Celtic Connection: Samhain
Our story begins over 2,000 years ago with the Celts, who inhabited regions that are now Ireland, the UK, and northern France. They celebrated Samhain (pronounced “sow-in,” not “sam-hain,” unless you want to be the laughingstock of the afterlife) on the night of October 31st. This festival marked the end of the harvest season and the onset of winter – a time when the veil between the living and the dead was believed to be at its thinnest.
READ: These Were the Most Beautiful Bonds & Bond Girls
Picture it: bonfires blazing, people dressed in animal skins, and a whole lot of ghostly shenanigans. The Celts believed that on this night, the spirits of the deceased would return to earth, and they needed to appease these wandering souls. Offerings of food and drink were left out, and if you were particularly unlucky, you might find yourself on the receiving end of a ghostly prank or two.
The Roman Influence
Fast forward a few centuries, and the Romans, with their penchant for conquest and cultural assimilation, decided to throw their own festivities into the mix. They combined Samhain with their own festivals – namely Feralia, which honoured the dead, and Pomona, the goddess of fruit and trees (and, let’s be honest, the original apple bobbing champion). This fusion of traditions began to shape the Halloween we recognise today, as the Romans introduced the idea of celebrating the harvest with a bit more flair (and probably a few more orgies).
READ: The Glenlivet Releases its Oldest Whisky to Date
The Christianisation of Halloween
As Christianity spread across Europe, the church sought to replace pagan festivals with Christian ones. Enter All Hallows’ Eve, the night before All Saints’ Day, which was established to honour saints and martyrs. The name “Halloween” is derived from “All Hallows’ Eve,” (or Hallo’s Eve) and just like that, the spooky festivities were given a holy makeover.
But let’s be real – no amount of holy water could extinguish the spirit of mischief that had been brewing for centuries. People continued to celebrate with costumes, bonfires, and, of course, the occasional ghost story.
The American Adaptation
When Irish immigrants brought their Halloween traditions to America in the 19th century, the holiday began to take on a distinctly American flavour. The pumpkin, once a humble gourd, was transformed into the iconic jack-o’-lantern, thanks to the abundance of pumpkins in the New World. The practice of carving faces into these squashes was inspired by the Irish legend of Stingy Jack, a man who tricked the devil and was doomed to wander the earth with only a carved turnip for light.
READ: What’s New in Hong Kong Dining this October
In America, Halloween morphed into a community-centred holiday, with parties, parades, and, of course, trick-or-treating. By the 1950s, it had become a commercialised phenomenon, with candy companies and costume manufacturers cashing in on the spooky fun.
A Spooktacular Melting Pot
Today, Halloween is celebrated in various forms around the globe. In Mexico, Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) honours deceased loved ones with vibrant altars, sugar skulls, and marigolds – an explosion of colour that would make even the most extravagant Halloween party look like a monochrome affair.
READ: The North Face x Comme des Garçons Winter Capsule
In Japan, the celebration of Obon honours ancestors with lanterns and dances, while in Italy, the festival of Ognissanti (All Saints’ Day) is a time for remembrance, albeit with less candy and more solemnity.
Meanwhile, in the United States, Halloween has become a multi-billion-dollar industry, with haunted houses, horror films, and elaborate decorations that would make even the most stoic of neighbours raise an eyebrow. From the classic ghost costumes to the latest viral trends (we’re looking at you, TikTok), Halloween has become a canvas for creativity and self-expression.
READ: Wonder Room Opens as Singapore’s Newest Micro-Club
Of course, here in Hong Kong Halloween is met with true enthusiasm as Wyndham Street and Lan Kwai Fong are decked in fake cobwebs and pumpkin lanterns, bars put on special menus and signature cocktails laced with fake blood, Potting Lane sees its biggest sales peak as costumes hitting this year’s trends are snapped up, and crowds of little witches and lads dressed as pop culture icons decent on Central and Nutsford Terrace to revel well into the Witching Hour.
The Spirit Lives On
As we don our costumes and prepare for a night of revelry, it’s essential to remember the rich tapestry of history that has led us to this point. Halloween is more than just a night of candy and scares; it’s a celebration of life as well as death – although we definitely prefer the former!
For more Events inspiration click here
LIKE WHAT YOU SEE? FOLLOW ALPHA MEN ASIA ON FACEBOOK, OR INSTAGRAM AND SUBSCRIBE TO OUR HONG KONG-CENTRIC NEWSLETTER HERE
