Where was Halloween born?

But have you ever wondered where Halloween comes from and how traditions like trick-or-treating and orange and black decorations came to be? While we typically associate Halloween with the United States, did you know that the holiday didn’t originate there? We actually have the same country that gave us Guinness beer , the best golf courses, and St. Patrick’s Day to thank for this spooky October celebration.

The origin of Halloween

That’s right: Ireland claims to be the birthplace of Halloween, and to this day, the Emerald Isle is a popular destination for Halloween travel. Even if your visit to Ireland doesn’t coincide with one of the extravagant Halloween celebrations, there are plenty of spooky sites open year-round that can be part of a spectacular itinerary.

The origin of Halloween dates back approximately 2,000 years to pagan Ireland , where the ancient festival of Samhain was celebrated on the island. According to Tourism Ireland, the festival marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. During this period, the Celts believed that they were «closer to the underworld» and that because of the thin line separating the underworld from Earth, spirits were able to roam freely. It is believed that people left offerings to appease these wandering spirits and would dress up in costumes to confuse any evil beings roaming the Earth.

Samhain is seen as a time to reflect on those who have passed away, explains Dr Kelly Fitzgerald, head of the School of Irish and Celtic Studies and Folklore at University College Dublin. The timing of the festival is significant: celebrated at the end of the harvest, when the days grow shorter and the clock “goes back”, it is a time of year when people tend to look inwards and face their fears as they step into the darkness, she adds.

Where does the custom of Halloween costumes come from?

Although this year’s most popular costumes, according to Google, are inspired by characters like Beetlejuice and Australian Olympic dancer Raygun, the origin of dressing up for Halloween has a rather peculiar twist: the Celts dressed up in masks and costumes to hide from evil spirits and not be recognized by them.

Even the colours we associate with Halloween, black and orange, have their origins in the Celts. Black symbolised the entrance into darkness and winter, and was also associated with the underworld, while orange represented the end of a productive harvest. The festival connected the end of autumn with the beginning of winter.

What is the origin of Halloween traditions?

Some of the Halloween traditions celebrated in the United States and elsewhere in the world can be traced back to the Samhain festival in Ireland. Bonfires were burned to ward off demonic spirits, and the embers were carried home in hollowed-out turnips, a custom that may have influenced the tradition of pumpkin carving.

And what about the relationship between Halloween and bats? The US Library of Congress explains that the Celtic bonfires attracted insects, and so did the winged acrobats who fed on them. In this way, bats became part of the festival.

What is the origin of «Trick or Treat»?

The tradition of trick-or-treating also has its roots in ancient practices. Long before there were Butterfingers candies and bags of Skittles, children and poor people in Ireland would visit wealthier families and offer to pray for their souls in exchange for cakes called Soul Cakes , sweets decorated with a cross and made with dried fruit and spices, according to the Irish Tourist Board. It is also said that during Samhain, the Celts would leave food out to appease the spirits that passed between the underworld and Earth at night.

Some believe that trick-or-treating originated from the Scottish practice of guising, a secular version of souling during the Middle Ages. Instead of praying, costumed people would exchange songs and jokes for candy.

Another theory about the origin of trick-or-treating, according to the U.S. Library of Congress, refers to a German-American Christmas tradition called belsnickeling , in which children dressed up and received candy if they were not recognized.

How is Halloween celebrated in Ireland?

Halloween remains popular in Ireland, with a series of enchanting celebrations, elaborate parades and state-of-the-art fireworks displays taking place across the country in late October and early November.

In County Meath , the Púca festival celebrates a mysterious folkloric creature believed to be able to change the fortunes of those who encounter it. Ward’s Hill in Meath is one of the oldest sites to host the Samhain festival, where the Celts would light a ceremonial fire to welcome a new season.

Or, it can be celebrated at the carnival in Derry-Londonderry , an ancient walled city. Dracula fans descend on Dublin to pay homage to the Count and his dreamer at the Bram Stoker Festival.

Haunted destinations to visit in Ireland

Beyond these festivals, thrill-seekers can find ghost tours throughout the year in Ireland.

Some of the spookiest spots (if you’re up for it) include the Hellfire Club in County Dublin, where rich people were rumored to play cards with the devil in the 18th century, and Seafield House in County Sligo, where no priest was able to exorcise a poltergeist from this 19th-century country house. Or, you could look for the «Grey Lady» who is said to silently walk The Dark Hedges, a beech-lined avenue you might recognize from Game of Thrones , where it stood in for the Kingsroad. Legend has it that she disappears at night.