The wind lets out a groaning howl and you feel a shiver creep down your spine. You clutch a knife in your hands, trembling in anticipation as your heartbeat echoes through your entire being. Shadows dance in the corners of your eyes giving you the courage to finally put your knife to use. But there is no phantom to fend off, instead you delicately press it into the lifeless pumpkin waiting in front of you. With a sigh of relief, you dig into the gooey guts and meticulously design a cheerful, joyous expression.
Every fall brings a spooky season of pumpkins and fake spiderwebs, prompting people of all ages to dress head to toe in decorative costumes, carve jack o’lanterns, and go from door to door for trick or treating; but how did these traditions come to be?
According to Heather Thomas of the Library of Congress Blogs, Halloween originates from an ancient Celtic festival of Samhain in which the last summer harvest was celebrated. Bonfires were lit and costumes were worn in an effort to ward off unwanted spirits. Following this festival were All Saints Day and All Hallows Eve which led to the eventual creation of the current Halloween we celebrate today.
Halloween has stemmed out across the world, forming new traditions and trends every place it goes. Even the students at Oak Park High School have their own unique ways to celebrate the holiday.
“Every Halloween I go all out for my costume. I pick something out at the beginning of the year, and I’ll spend months working on the outfit and planning out the makeup,” senior Addison O’Grady said. “I also really like to hand make as many elements of my costumes as I can. My goal each year is to top the year before, and it’s always a lot of fun.”
The first step to any good Halloween celebration is a well executed costume, but what follows is the reward for your efforts: free candy! Trick or treaters dressed and ready for the night ahead of them go door to door excited to later examine and trade their loot with friends.
“I take my two little sisters trick-or-treating every year. We go around the neighborhood and skip any houses that are too spooky,” senior Addie Vandenhengel said. “We usually do a family Halloween Costume. One time we even did The Wizard of Oz and it came out so cute.”
Trick or Treating first originated when it was believed it to ward off wandering spirits of the night. “People began to dress as these unearthly beings in exchange for similar offerings of food and drink,” Thomas said.
Similarly, people carved spooky faces into turnips to protect their homes, which has evolved into carving jack o’lanterns today. Despite the change in produce, these carved faces have retained their eerie expressions.
“My friends and I go to BJ’s for their spooky pizookies and carve pumpkins afterwards. We compete to see who can create the best design and it’s honestly just such a fun way to spend the night” senior Anusha Pandey said.
As Halloween continues to evolve, its rich traditions of the past will keep bringing people together; whether it’s costumes, candy or pumpkins, the spirit of the spooky season will forge lasting memories, strengthening the communities that celebrate them.
