A common misconception that Halloween has pagan roots and to claim the Church in Rome was even vaguely aware of the Druid celebrations is ludicrous (Wally’s World Oct. 31 article). Actually, Oct. 31 was for the ancient Celts a small celebration similar to our American Arbor Day, not a huge deal. It was actually the seventh century Church in Italy, who by that time had way too many feast days celebrating all the martyrs and saints that Pope Gregory III (d. 741) had to come up with a solution. He moved All Saints Day, which was originally celebrated on May 13, to Nov. 1 which was the dedication day of All Saints Chapel at St. Peter’s in Rome. Note this feast day was only local to Rome and the nearby territories and Pope Gregory could care less what the Druid cult was up to all the way over in the British Isles.
A century later, in the 840s, Pope Gregory IV declared All Saints to be observed throughout the whole Church so it spread to Ireland, which by that time had been Christian for almost three centuries thanks to St. Patrick. About a century and a half later, St. Odilo, an abbot at a monastery in the south of France, added the celebration of All Souls Day on Nov. 2. This devotion spread quickly with now two days for celebrating all the souls in heaven and purgatory. Well, long story short, the French, who have a propensity for masquerade balls, dressed up in costumes and danced on All Souls Day. The superstitious Irish felt sorry for the souls in hell so they thought it would be fun to bang pots and pans on All Hallows Eve to keep them at bay, much to the chagrin of the Church.
Well, these two cultures met up and started marrying in the 17th-century American colonies and their two customs were blended. The trick-or–treat part is actually from the British feast of Guy Fawkes Day, where the British run around lighting bonfires and partying on cold nights while remembering a Catholic who was framed and executed by Parliament. In America, in the eighteenth century, Protestants would put on masks and terrorize local Catholic homes in the middle of the night demanding beer and cakes – or else. Some trick! This anti-Catholic sentiment gradually faded and the trick-or-treat celebration blended well with the Oct. 31 celebration when all the French and Irish were kicking up their heels anyway.
So Halloween is a part of the American culture and at its roots, Catholic and not pagan. In fact, the way we celebrate the day is mostly unknown in Europe. Even my daughter’s friend, who is a Catholic exchange student from Spain, has never heard of celebrating Halloween. As for my family, we will celebrate the lives of the Saints of the Church and remember and pray for our departed loved ones, but we will also have fun carving a pumpkin, dressing up and giving and receiving candy!
Debbie Sweeney
Maple Valley
