October marks the beginning of the spooky season… aka Halloween!
Of course, it’s not as big of a deal here in Australia than it is in the United States (much to my personal dismay).
With that being said though, the ‘holiday’ has started gaining popularity Down Under in recent years…
But what exactly is Halloween?
Allow us to teach you the history as well as why you should celebrate it!
What is the real meaning of Halloween?
Halloween, celebrated annually on October 31, has a rich history that stretches back thousands of years.
It originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter – a time associated with death.
The Celts believed that on the night of October 31, the boundary between the living and the dead was blurred, and spirits could roam the earth.
To ward off harmful spirits, people lit bonfires and wore costumes to disguise themselves.
When Christianity spread, the church sought to replace pagan festivals with its own celebrations.
By the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as All Saints’ Day (also known as All Hallows), a day to honour saints and martyrs.
The evening before became known as All Hallows’ Eve, eventually shortened to Halloween.
Over the centuries, the spooky holiday evolved further, blending different cultural traditions.
In the 19th century, Irish and Scottish immigrants brought Halloween customs to the United States, where it gradually shifted into a community-based celebration marked with activities like trick-or-treating, costume parties, and pumpkin carving.
Today, Halloween is more of a secular holiday focused on fun, dressing up, and spooky themes.
Of course, some people still honour its origins by paying homage to the dead, but for most, it’s just a festive day.
Why do we celebrate Halloween in Australia?
Halloween is celebrated in Australia primarily due to cultural influences from the United States, where the holiday is widely popular.
Though Halloween isn’t a traditional Australian celebration, it has – as aforementioned – grown in popularity in recent years, especially among younger generations.
This increase can be attributed to globalisation, movies, TV shows, and the internet, which have exposed Australians to American Halloween customs like trick-or-treating, costume parties, and decorating homes with spooky themes… you know, harmless fun!
