Halloween is right around the corner. I want to address an issue that has bothered me for many years. Every year around this time is when I begin to hear one of the oldest rumors in the book: that Halloween is the day of the devil.
First off, this statement is incorrect and incredibly disrespectful. As someone who is of Irish descent, I find it extremely frustrating and sad that for years many people have spread false and damaging ideology about this holiday.
Halloween, or Samhain, began centuries ago by the Celtic people in what is now Ireland.
The purpose of this holiday was to honor our ancestors who have passed on and ward off evil spirits. This day was when the Celtic people believed that the veil between the worlds was at its thinnest, therefore, our ancestors who had passed could return to earth.
As they honored past loved ones, they were also aware that just as there were good spirits, there were evil spirits, which is why they wore costumes. They wore animal hides and other pieces of clothing to mask themselves so that the evil spirits would leave them be.
There was never any black magic, Satanic rituals or other dark practices.
Just like everything else, Halloween has mutated from its original form. Most obviously, the nature of costumes has changed as you wouldn’t have seen many sexy nurses at the ancient bonfires.
It also wasn’t until the Middle Ages that the exchange of food and drinks began which then turned into what we now know as trick or treating.
I would like everyone to keep in mind that even though there are some individuals who have given Halloween a bad reputation by conducting dark rituals, not everyone celebrates that way.
This holiday is meant to bring joyful celebration of life and to commemorate the end of the summer.
Everyone can celebrate whatever and however they want but please keep in mind that you should educate yourself on something before you make claims about it, especially if it has to do with someone’s culture.
It’s time to put these rumors to rest and treat every culture with respect.
