2. Festivals
October 27 – Feast of the Holy Souls - fiesta de Los
Santas Animas
October 31 – Halloween
November 1 – All saints day
November 2 – All souls day
November 4 – Mischief night
November 7 - Mayan day of the dead (Last day)
3. Origin of the name
Originally All Hallows Eve
The night before All Hallows Day (All Saints Day)
4. Early History
Many historians attribute the origins of Halloween to the
Roman feast of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds,
or in the festival of the dead called Parentalia, and also
linked to the Celtic festival of Samhain (Summer‟s End)
Linked to Christianity because the church had converted
many yet they continued to celebrated Samhain.
Catholic Church declare Nov 1 All Saints Day and Nov 2
All Souls day.
5. Early History
A celebration linked to the preparation for the winter
months (Similar to Thanksgiving)
A time for honoring the saints and the dead.
Supposedly the time of the year which the spirit world
and the physical world are closest
Goal was to honor your ancestors so that they ensure
good luck while also warding off evil spirits.
6. Early History
The Irish built huge, symbolically regenerative bonfires
and invoked the help of the gods through animal and
perhaps even human sacrifice
Halloween didn‟t arrive in American until the 19th
century with Irish and Scottish Immigrants
7. Symbols
Jack-O‟-Lantern – traditionally made out of turnips were
a way to honor souls lost in purgatory. Americans carve
pumpkins because they were easier to carve and more
readily available. Originally simply a harvest tradition.
Harvest imagery such as pumpkins, corn husks,
scarecrows.
The devil and evil is associated with Halloween because
the church had wanted to discourage samhain at first.
8. Symbols
Trick or Treating – Children dress up as spirits and go
door to door collecting candy or money while asking the
question trick or treat? Trick being a mostly idle threat.
In Ireland it is a custom that the children preform a trick
to earn candy. Sing songs / tell ghost stories.
late medieval practice of souling, when poor folk would
go door to door on Hallowmas (November 1), receiving
food in return for prayers for the dead on All Souls' Day
(November 2).
9. Symbols
Costumes started off to represent souls and ghost, then
incorporated other supernatural figures, and later other
archetypes and recognizable characters such as
celebrities, politicians, and cartoons
A time to be whoever you want to be, possibly making
some sort of statement or breaking cultural norms.
Costume Parties – festivities to wear costumes, and
often includes playing games and tricks.
10. Symbols
Bobbing for apples is a traditional came to play during
Halloween. The object of the game is to pick out a
floating apple from a barrel with only your teeth.
Some traditional games are forms of divination and
fortune telling.
Telling of ghost stories or watching horror films during
the holiday atmosphere
Haunted attractions
11. Foods
Barmback – Yeasted bread with sultranas and raisins
Bonfire toffee
Candy apples / toffee apples
Candy corn / candy pumpkins
Colcannon - mashed patatoes kale and cabbage
Pumpkin, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread
Roasted pumpkin seeds
Roasted sweet corn
Soul cakes
12. Halloween around the world
Europe – Halloween is deeply imbedded in some
countries especially the United Kingdom, while others it
is a somewhat new tradition some only celebrating it as
late as the late 90‟s. In some countries it seems
Halloween is waning such as Switzerland because of
“festival overload”.
Central and South America – Celebrated similarly to
North Americans often with more of a Christian slant.
13. Halloween around the world
Asia - it is often celebrated only in large cities as it is
more recently introduced through pop culture.
Australia – Halloween is frowned upon because of it lack
relevance to Australia„s culture. It‟s popularity is on the
rise but it is more common to see parties rather than
trick-o‟-treating
