Lauren Woodrell on the History, Traditions, and Observations of All Hallows Eve

"Every October 31st, the celebration of All Hallows Eve, now more commonly known as Halloween, takes over the streets. Households hand out candy to children who say 'trick or treat' and hope they don't get raisins or apples in their bags of goodies. Groups of friends find trails, houses, and theme parks that advertise 'spooky' or 'haunted.' Jack-o-lanterns sit on porches as little works of art. Families use cobwebs as decorations instead of using brooms to clear them. Blood, skeletons, and screams are in abundance. 

"But before the All Hallows Eve we know today came to be, the night of October 31st was the Celtic celebration of Samhain. From its ancient origins to its religious takeover, the holiday has taken on a life of its own."

In a recent commentary, Lauren Woodrell, editor at Magis Center, reflected on how this Celtic celebration of the end of harvest and preparation for the coming winter, celebrated on the eve of the Celtic New Year (1 November) was on a night that they believed that the boundary between the deceased and living "would become blurred and the dead would walk among the living for that single night" and on how the traditions of All Hallows Eve trick-or-treating and costumes developed.

To access Ms. Woodrell's complete post, please visit:

Magis Center: All Hallows Eve: History, Traditions, and Observations (28 OCT 22)