Our modern Halloween has its roots in the ancient Druidic or Celtic festival, which marked the end of autumn (or fall), and the beginning of winter, and a New Year. This festival, known as Samhain (oddly pronounced sow-en) was one of the great occult festivals of the whole year and was believed to be the most “magical” night of the year.

It was at this time that the spirits of the dead were more readily available for personal communication and therefore it was a golden opportunity to be “in touch” with the leaders and authorities of the “otherworld”, so that magic powers and spells would be at their most influential.

So much of our modern Halloween traditions have their basis in this festival, that many people might be surprised if not horrified to learn of the occultic and mystical rituals behind them.

Among these were special incantations and practices invoking help with families, marriages, business deals, the weather, and the unforeseen events of the New Year. Commonly young people would slice an apple through the middle, eating it by candlelight in front of a mirror. Supposedly the destined future spouse would suddenly appear beside the hopeful lover. Along with this somewhat unique method of finding a mate, the participants could also peel an apple, making sure the skin came off in one long piece while all the while loudly reciting,
“I pare this apple round and round;
My sweetheart's name I hope is found.
I throw the skin here at my feet
My sweetheart's name to surely greet.”
Hence, “dunking” for apples wasn’t just for fun ---it was also part of the marriage divination rites. The first person actually to take a bite out of an apple would be the first to marry in the New Year.
Soothsayers often used the peelings from the apple to ascertain how long a person’s life would be ------ the longer the unbroken apple peel, the longer the life!

Roasting chestnuts is very much part of an Irish Halloween. The origin of this practice in the festivities began when a young girl would place the nuts along the front of the fireplace. Each chestnut represented one of her “love interests” and she would carefully examine each one while chanting, as she threw it into the fire.
'If you love me, pop and fly; if you hate me, burn and die.'

Of course we all know the story behind the pumpkin masks --to scare away the evil spirits and to keep protective deities around the home. After all, only “evil” would be afraid of its own image!

The traditions are not for everyone, but next time someone says "Happy Halloween", you will know where the true origin of many of the things we do “for fun” and perhaps understand that for many people throughout the world, this night is much more than just a time for dress-up and walking the Mall to fill a bag with free candies.