As Halloween fast approaches, the holiday here in the US seems to get bigger each year. I had to wonder, how and when did this holiday take hold in this country? After all, America was founded by Puritans who would’ve banned such holidays. But as other cultures emigrated to the United States, they brought along their own customs.
It seems Irish and Scottish immigrants, who arrived between 1840 and 1870, were responsible for bringing their traditions, including Halloween to the United States. The origins of modern-day Halloween came from a pre-existing autumn festival of the dead, called Samhain.
Scottish and Irish-Americans held dinners and balls, celebrating their heritage and legends. Children’s Halloween activities included bobbing for apples and divination games. Pranks and mischief were also common.
So, like Christmas traditions, many of our modern-day Halloween celebrations originated during the Victorian era.
For more info on the origins of Halloween, visit these History Channel sites: http://www.history.com/minisites/halloween/
http://www.history.com/video.do?name=halloween
It seems Irish and Scottish immigrants, who arrived between 1840 and 1870, were responsible for bringing their traditions, including Halloween to the United States. The origins of modern-day Halloween came from a pre-existing autumn festival of the dead, called Samhain.
Scottish and Irish-Americans held dinners and balls, celebrating their heritage and legends. Children’s Halloween activities included bobbing for apples and divination games. Pranks and mischief were also common.
So, like Christmas traditions, many of our modern-day Halloween celebrations originated during the Victorian era.
For more info on the origins of Halloween, visit these History Channel sites: http://www.history.com/minisites/halloween/
http://www.history.com/video.do?name=halloween
