Culture & Heritage
Halloween: A Night Where History, Mystery and Celebration Meet
Jishnu Vijayan Nair
Actor/Writer/Motivational Speaker - Kerala
Click to enlargeEvery year, on the evening of October 31, streets and homes in many parts of the world take on a different appearance. Pumpkins glow on doorsteps, children dress as ghosts and superheroes, and houses are decorated with cobwebs, skeletons and mysterious figures. This is Halloween, a celebration that brings together history, folklore, mystery and modern entertainment. Although it is widely recognised for its unusual costumes and spooky decorations, its origins carry a much deeper cultural significance.
The roots of Halloween are commonly traced to Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival celebrated in parts of Ireland and Scotland. For the Celtic people, Samhain marked the transition from summer to winter and the end of the harvest season. It was also believed that on this night, the boundary between the living and the spirit world became thinner, allowing the spirits of the dead to return to the world of the living. People lit bonfires and wore disguises, believing these practices would protect them from wandering spirits.
Written by
Jishnu Vijayan Nair