Same Dates, Same Feast, Worlds Apart

Halloween is upon us once more.  Our goodie bags prepared for the Trick or Treaters at the ready.  But why October 31 and what are we really celebrating?  Surprisingly, the genesis of the modern Halloween can be traced back to distinct origins in very different parts of the world among cultures with no readily apparent ties.  More surprisingly, these ethnically and culturally distinct celebrations share eerily similar and almost identical traits.

Most people understand that Halloween grew from Celtic traditions in Ireland and Scotland.  The Celts celebrated the Festival of Samhain.  About 2000 years ago, the Samhain Festival recognized the divide between the lighter (Summer) and darker (Winter) times of the year.  During this time from October 31 to November 2, the curtain between our world and the otherworld would be at its thinnest.

Spirits could pass through the veil between life and afterlife during Samhain.  Family ancestors might be invited home, but actions were needed to ward off or distract harmful spirits.  People would don costumes and masks to disguise themselves so that the harmful spirits would pass them by.  Those current Trick or Treaters are not really Princesses and Spider Men after all.  Instead, they represent the wise youth tricking the wistful and dangerous spirits among us!

Towns and villages would set large bonfires on the eve of Samhain (October 31). Fires in houses would be extinguished and then reignited with embers from the communal bonfire.  Embers might be transported in carved out gourds – a precursor to Jack-O-Lanterns.

In Ireland, two hills were associated with Samhain.  The Hill at Tlachtga would be the location of the great fire festival and the largest bonfire.  The bonfire would be set on the eve of Samhain.  The Hill at Tara served a similar purpose as well as the entrance to the Mound of Hostages.  The burial ground at the Mound of Hostages holds remains dating back 5000 years suggesting that the Samhain Festival celebration may be much older than 2000 years.

As the Samhain season coincided with harvest, food would be prepared for both the living and the dead.  If the dead were not able to eat their share, it would be shared with those less fortunate.  This tradition evolved into leaving or giving out soul cakes.  Soul cakes, a small, round, sweet dough pastry would be offered in return for prayers for the dead.

The Festival of Samhain essentially served as New Years for the Celts.  The power of the sun and Summer season clearly faded by October 31.  The massive bonfires, in part, represented an effort to maintain the light given the impending darkness.  Yet, darkness could not be stopped.  Absent the power and control of the sun, creatures from the dark underworld could travel among the living.  The Celtic Lord of the Dead, Donn, could release the dead, ghosts and other creatures at this juncture between seasons.

As Catholicism spread among the Celts, pagan rituals could not be tolerated.  But they could be co-opted.  In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III decreed November 1 as All Saints Day.  Soon thereafter, the Catholic Church recognized November 2 as All Souls Day.  These liturgical feasts recognized all who passed.  All Hallows Eve fell into place on October 31 which became Halloween.  The tradition of leaving small cakes to feed the returning dead morphed into handing out candy to those showing up on your doorstep on October 31.

A world away from Ireland, in areas in Mexico controlled by indigenous Mexicans or Aztec influenced peoples, the precursor to Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, evolved during the same time frame.  Locals celebrated the Day of the Dead on November 1 and 2, although some celebrations included October 31 and even lasted until November 6.  The feast would commemorate the dead with festive celebrations including bright flowers and favorite foods of the deceased.  Gifts and treats could be shared among the living.

Day of the Dead celebrations included costumes, quite often dressing as skeletons noting our own mortality while recognizing the dead.  Graveside efforts involved the construction of makeshift alters to hold food and treats for the deceased.  These actions would be taken to encourage the departed souls to visit the living.  Toys would be brought for the children and adult beverages would be provided to the grown ups.  With sufficient tequila, the adults could claim to be visited by anyone!

One treat prepared for the dead was pan de muerto, a sweet, roll shaped bun topped with sugar.  The use, appearance and purpose of the pan de muerto strikes as identical with the soul cakes.

The roots of all Day of the Dead traditions are not all clear and debate exists regarding Spanish influences as opposed to an Aztec foundation.  What appears fairly certain is that pre-Spanish arrival in Mexico, some form of Day of the Dead was celebrated from October 31 to November 2 to honor and communicate with the deceased.

Perhaps even less clear are the origins of Festa dei Morti in Sicily celebrated from October 31 to November 2.  Many regions in Italy take part in some form of All Saints and All Souls Days.  The traditions in Sicily predate these other celebrations.  Whether the origins predate the declarations of Pope Gregory III in the eighth century remain a question.

In Sicily, Festa dei Morti remembers the dead, but is focused on the children.  If the children have been good, they awake to find presents left for them by the dead.  The dead are not dressed in red suits with long white beards, but the traditions sound distinct from all other areas.

The Festa dei Morti honors the dead with small pastries covered in sugar (if you sense a theme, you are correct).  These treats provide nourishment to the dead who journey to visit the living from October 31 to November 2 (Yes.  Another theme).

Festa dei Morti in Sicily, even if it originated distinct from other cultures, clearly adopted many of the Celtic traditions of Samhain.  The origination lines may be more blurred with Festa dei Morti with the spread of Catholicism.  However, the time and purpose of the celebration aligned with other, culturally distinct practices.

We may have a chicken or egg issue with Festa dei Morti.  Nonetheless, Samhain, Dia de los Muerots and Festa dei Morti, not to mention Fete Gede in Haiti, originated and evolved in distinct geographic areas during eras when extended travel was all but impossible.  Each feast honors the dead, believes that the dead may be among us during the feast, involves costumes or disguises, includes sweet treats for the dead and alive alike, and took place on identical dates on the calendar.  Pretty scary coincidences for a Halloween tale.

In Estate Planning, I marvel at the relatively uniform goals of clients from different cultures, ethnicities, and socio-economic status.  At the most base level, we all want to somehow provide for our loved ones and families, regardless of our backgrounds or circumstances.  Perhaps we should not find it so terribly surprising that different forms of Halloween developed at different parts of our world at the same time.  If not so surprising, the absolute similarities remain frightening.  Happy Halloween!