Halloween Mythology: Samhain – The Origins of Halloween Part 5

Symbolism in Halloween: Where They Come From

Many of the symbols of Halloween are products of commercialism, but it is also a reflection of the mysteries of Death. Death, for so many cultures and people is a mystery, sometimes a fearful thing and we incorporate the images of horror to do two things: To remind us of our mortality and to face it and know it.

One of the symbols of Halloween is the jack o’ lantern, of course. The black cat is associated with Witches, who were considered the servants of darkness. We have the dead, represented by skeletons and the Grim Reaper, and then we have the Children of the Night, the Vampires, the Werewolves, the Mummy, and Zombies.

The colors of Halloween of course represent the changing of the seasons, the changing of the trees and the land from the brilliant greens to the violent oranges and reds of the autumnal change in nature. Black is of course the staple color of Halloween and represents the night and the mysteries of the night and the creatures that inhabit it. Candles remind us of the tiny light in the dark, creating shadows and making even familiar objects seem sinister and threatening.

And of course, we have things that appeal to our phobias: spiders, bats, snakes and toads, all of those cringeworthy creatures of our natural world.

The treats of course represent the lavish feasts that were shared by families who were remembering the ancestors, inviting them to be among the living once again.

In more modern times, things like costumes have taken on a playful spin. Super heroes, faerie princesses, cross dressing (which is not a modern idea, but an ancient one, confusing the viewer by challenging our understanding of gender roles), and famous people (how many Hannah Montana’s did you give suckers and bubble gum to?) to walk among the myriads of axe killers, maniacs and killer clowns.

Modern Witches and Pagans generally eschew the secular practices we see in Halloween because it is thought that the holiday actually espouses stereotypes that are dangerous to their community. They instead celebrate the more orthodox celebration of Samhain, with rituals, prayers and remembrances of those who have gone into the next world.

Sources: Holidays Around the World by Stephanie Woll and The Ways of People: Celebrating Around the Globe by Daniel Michaels and Celebrating the Seasons: Samhain to Ostara by Ashleen O’Gaia