Popular culture commonly makes a wide variety of claims concerning the nature and origin of Halloween, everything from being a Catholic celebration of the saints to harmless childhood fun to a devious Satanic plot. Learn to separate the faction from fiction about what we know (and don't know) about the origins of Halloween.
Q: Is Halloween Christian, pagan, or secular?
A: The most straightforward answer is "secular." People who celebrate this day in a religious context generally do not call it Halloween, and the common practices associated with Halloween such as costuming and giving of treats are secular celebrations. Read moreQ: Is Halloween Satanic?
A: Only in certain circumstances, and not historically. Halloween is most directly related to the Catholic holiday of All Hallows Eve, although it has picked up a variety of practices and beliefs most likely borrowed from folklore. Even the origins of those practices are often questionable... Read moreQ: What is Samhain?
A: Historically, Samhain was an Irish Celtic harvest festival that marked the beginning of the winter season. It is not likely to have been held on a specific calendar day, but rather whenever the harvest was finished for the year.
There are a variety of Halloween traditions often credited to Samhain, such as costume wearing and the creation of hallowed out vegetables (predecessors to the jack-o-lantern). Readers are cautioned to be very wary of such claims...Read more
