Pagan Origins
Celtic festival marking the end of harvest and beginning of winter.
Bonfire
The night before All Saints’ Day.
All Hallows’ Eve
Houses in which ghosts live or visit
Haunted House
Modern celebration blending ancient and recent traditions.
Halloween
Symbolic boundary between the living and spirit worlds.
Threshold
Medieval practice of going door to door offering prayers.
Souling
Movement of Celtic peoples to North America.
Immigration
Disguise worn during Halloween festivities.
Costume
Celtic festival marking the end of harvest and beginning of winter.
Samhain
Early Christian whose death was commemorated.
Martyr
Non-religious
Secular
Contemporary version of souling and mumming.
Trick-or-treat
Protective rituals against malevolent forces.
Warding
Holy figure honored during Christian observances.
Saint
Folk performance tradition influencing Halloween customs.
Mumming
Making buckets of money on sweets
The sweets industry
Celtic priest involved in rituals and seasonal festivals.
Druid
Religious parade or ritual walk.
Procession
Seasonal theme central to both Celtic and American traditions.
Harvest
That getting scared (temporarily) can feel good.
The thrill of the fright