Are you superstitious? At least 25% of Americans are. They avoid black cats, breaking mirrors, and walking under ladders. Even if you’re not superstitious, you do things that originated from superstitions. For example, today we consider it polite to say “bless you” when someone sneezes. But did you know the reason for originally saying that was because our ancestors believed the devil could steal a person’s soul when they sneezed?
According to “The Science of Superstition—and Why People Believe in the Unbelievable” by Neil Dagnall and Ken Drinkwater, superstition is “a belief in supernatural forces—such as fate—the desire to influence unpredictable factors and a need to resolve uncertainty.”
Many Halloween superstitions and myths originated from ancient (usually Celtic) pagan rituals and traditions. These beliefs and customs were brought to America by immigrants, and over time—and interactions with other cultures—morphed into today’s American Halloween practices.
Trick-Or-Treating, Costumes, & Jack-O’-Lanterns
Samhain, celebrated on October 31 by the ancient Celts, marked the end of harvest and the start of winter. On this night, the separation of the human and spirit worlds is said to be the thinnest, allowing ghosts to walk among the living.
- These spirits disguised themselves and knocked on doors asking for food or money. If turned away empty-handed, they would exact revenge by cursing or haunting the homeowner.
- Humans dressed like ghosts on Samhain because, if the evil spirits thought you were one of them, they wouldn’t try to steal your soul.
- Lost spirits wandering the streets on Halloween could be guided home by Jack-o’-lanterns. The frightening faces carved into them helped scare away evil spirits.
DYK Jack-o’-lanterns were originally created with turnips. It was only when the Irish, fleeing the potato famine of 1846, came to America that pumpkins replaced turnips.
Bats & Spiders
- According to Medieval folklore, seeing bats on Halloween was extremely bad luck, and seeing one fly around a house three times meant someone in the house would soon die.
- A house was haunted if a bat flew inside. (Why? Because a ghost must have let it in.)
- If a spider fell into a candle-lit lamp and burned up, witches were near.
- Seeing a spider on Halloween meant a deceased loved one’s spirit was watching over you.
Apples
In ancient times, apples were believed to be sacred fruit.
Stay healthy.
- Stand under an apple tree on Halloween night, wrapped only in a bedsheet, eating a large apple at the stroke of midnight, and never get another cold.
Predict your love life by playing the traditional game of bobbing for apples on Halloween.
- The first person to successfully grab an apple from the water without hands would be the first to marry.
- True love was the reward if an apple was caught on the first try.
- The longer it took to snag an apple, the more fickle a bobber’s romance efforts.
- A girl who bobbed for apples on Halloween, then put the apple under her pillow, dreamed of her future husband.
Final Thoughts
Superstitions can be illogical and often absurd. And, in most cases, the rationale behind them has long been forgotten. Still, we continue to observe them. Why? Habit? Common Curtesy? Fun?
Whatever your reason, enjoy your Halloween superstitions and have a safe and happy Halloween.