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The Roman Origins of Halloween: Updated
It seems that there is a bit more interest this year about the origins of Halloween. Maybe it is the fascination with its seemingly mysterious and ambiguous origins. Maybe it is simply just marketable as Halloween has grown into an industry in the United States. It is, however, a story worth examining as Halloween has become a social fixture.
We outlined the Roman origins of Halloween over a year ago in a previous article, and here we will focus a bit more on the Roman holidays that bridge the gap from ancient Rome to modern Halloween.
First of all, there is the link of Halloween to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. As Samhain simply marks the end of summer, or the harvesting season in modern day Ireland, the festival was a celebration of the harvest and a look forward to the new year, which started on November 1st. There was a great big party for the community – all hearth fires were put out in favor of one, large, communal fire where sacrifices were made. Seeing as this was a time of transition, the belief was that the forces of the underworld were ever present as the line between the living and dead was blurred. It became a time of prophecy and the Druids, or priestly class of Celtic society, used this moment to ask questions about the future – doing this with great pomp and ritual. Most were also in costume. Once the rituals and celebrations were over, the hearths within the homes were rekindled using the fire from the sacred, communal bonfire.
The Romans were not without their otherworldy celebrations. There was the Feralia, which according to Ovid, was celebrated at the end of the Parentalia from February 13-21 (a festival for honoring dead ancestors). The Feralia, celebrated on February 21st, was a festival were the Romans had to make offerings to appease the dead. If they did not, the consequences could be hauntings by these infernal spirits.
Yet it remains that the strongest link between ancient Rome and modern Halloween was the result of the celebration which honored the goddess Pomona, the godess of fruits and orchards. She was associated with the apple, and as we have seen, this is probably the reason why bobbing for apples is a tradition associated with Halloween. The Romans, who had conquered the province of Gallia and thereby subjugated the Gauls and Celts (living in Britannia), assimilated Samhain with the Pomona festival (a form of synchretism). As this tradition was kept alive for hundreds of years, eventually the Roman Catholic church assimilated this pagan holiday celebration with the recognition of All Hallows Day, a day to commemorate the saints and martyrs of the Catholic church’s pantheon.
So Samhain/Pomona Day was typically celebrated on October 31st and Novemeber 1st, respectfully. Then the Catholic church proclaimed November 1st All Hallows, which essentiall made All Hallows Eve – or Hallowe’en – the night before, October 31st. Without the Roman empire assimilating Samhain into their own festival, we may not have had a Halloween celebration to begin with. Scary thought!
Some Links:
Great and Telling Tales: Halloween
This is Spartacus?!
A new show is slated to hit the tube in January, 2010. It will be on Starz and will give us another ultra-violent glimpse into the ancient Roman world. If the story is familiar to you, it should be. It was originally turned into a movie by director Stanley Kubrick, starring Kirk Douglas as the gladiator “Spartacus” who led a revolt in central Italy during the Servile Wars.
Starz version of the story looks to zoom in a bit on the life of a gladiator, and of course sensationalizing it a bit to make for an interesting tale for modern sensibilities.
Take a look at the trailer and judge for yourself – this isn’t your daddy’s Spartacus:
Latin Program Underway at Somerset Academy
When one door closes, another opens.
Such as it is with Latin programs across the country these days. Some schools, in an effort to scale down their spending, have decided to shed courses from their curriculum. Usually, these are cited as courses that are not a part of the central core of the public school education system – i.e. English, Math, Science. We obviously feel that this is an oversight and an injustice to students and to their future, but that is something we can discuss at another time. There is a school that is bucking the trend, however. At a time when most are cutting back Somerset Academy is adding a Latin program.
Despite its popularity among its students, parents and community, Doctors Charter School closed its Latin program. As a result, Somerset Academy seized the opportunity to build one of their own with the same teacher, John Ricard.
The program will start simply, with Latin I, building from its 8th grade student population while also offering courses to 9th, 10th and even 11th graders. The idea is to offer high school credit to 8th graders, which will get them their 2nd year of a foreign language out of the way after only their 9th grade year. This will form a strong base for the Latin program and help to establish a tradition at the school.
The 8th graders, however, are not the only ones with interest in the program and for whom it would benefit. Current high school students – in 9th, 10th and even 11th grades – will benefit as there is time to take Latin I this year and Latin II next year. This would not only fulfill their language requirements, but also give them the added benefits that an education in the study of Latin can bring them – just in time for college.
New Latin program being promoted for Somerset Academy students
There are several orientations taking place this week at Somerset Academy in Pembroke Pines and there will be a booth available for the students there to get more information on the program and the benefits of studying Latin. (Chances are, some of those very students will be referred to Romae.org to get more information) In fact, Somerset Academy has already posted a link for a promotional flyer advertising the new Latin program that is being installed this year. Students, if they are interested, are being encouraged to sign up and change their schedules accordingly.
Learn More
Latin offers various benefits to anyone who undertakes the difficult and challenging task of studying it. This is also why the study of Latin is widely recognized as an unmatched academic endeavor for prospective college students by universities. Here are a couple of links that can help potential Latin students make the decision to take the plunge:
Latin at Somerset Academy flyer
Why Study Latin? Middle School Students
Survey of College and University Admissions Personnel about value of taking Latin
National Junior Classical League – largest classical organization in the world today, comprised of junior and senior high school students
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