Changes

If the holiday itself originated in Scotland, the eerie rituals of the modern Halloween celebration are the child of Victorian England. The Victorians were fond of reviving quaint customs that never were, and Halloween costume parties became popular in late 19th century. An illustrated guide published in 1887 provided costume ideas.<ref name="Holt">"[https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/52990/26-halloween-costume-ideas-1887-guide-fancy-dress 26 Halloween Costume Ideas from an 1887 Guide to Fancy Dress]."</ref>

If the holiday itself originated in Scotland, the eerie rituals of the modern Halloween celebration are the child of Victorian England. The Victorians were fond of reviving quaint customs that never were, and Halloween costume parties became popular in late 19th century. An illustrated guide published in 1887 provided costume ideas.<ref name="Holt">"[https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/52990/26-halloween-costume-ideas-1887-guide-fancy-dress 26 Halloween Costume Ideas from an 1887 Guide to Fancy Dress]."</ref>

===Samhain and the Celtic calendar===

===Samhain and the Celtic calendar===

That Halloween originated as the day before All Saints' Day might seem to be a straightforward explanation. But popular history points to another source: The ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.<ref>For a "popular history" account, see "[https://www.irishpost.com/news/samhain-seven-facts-about-the-spooky-irish-festival-which-became-halloween-105009 Samhain: Seven facts about the spooky Irish festival which became Halloween]", ''Irish Post''.</ref>

That Halloween originated as the day before All Saints' Day might seem to be a straightforward explanation. But popular history points to another source: The ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.<ref>For a "popular history" account, see "[https://www.irishpost.com/news/samhain-seven-facts-about-the-spooky-irish-festival-which-became-halloween-105009 Samhain: Seven facts about the spooky Irish festival which became Halloween]", ''Irish Post''.</ref>

 

[[File:De Ricci Coligny 1926 detail month14.jpeg|left|130px|thumb|Part of the Coligny calendar. This Celtic calendar was discovered in Coligny France in 1897]]In modern Gaelic, ''Samhain'' refers primarily to the month of November.<ref>Mark, Colin, ''The Gaelic–English Dictionary'' (2003).</ref> For the pre-Christian Celts, Samhain was the most important date of the year. Little is known of the pagan festival. Sources on Samhain conflict on many points, including what time of year the festival was.  

In modern Gaelic, ''Samhain'' refers primarily to the month of November.<ref>Mark, Colin, ''The Gaelic–English Dictionary'' (2003).</ref> For the pre-Christian Celts, Samhain was the most important date of the year. Little is known of the pagan festival. Sources on Samhain conflict on many points, including what time of year the festival was.  

The eleventh century Irish tale "The Sick-Bed of Cuchulain" portrays Samhain as a harvest festival held at "summer's end":  

The eleventh century Irish tale "The Sick-Bed of Cuchulain" portrays Samhain as a harvest festival held at "summer's end":  

===American Halloween===

===American Halloween===

[[File:Halloween.jpg|thumb|right]]

[[File:Halloween.jpg|thumb|right]]Although Halloween is often connected to Irish immigration, the holiday entered mainstream American culture in the late 19th century and in Protestant settings, as Karen Sue Hybertsen shows in her thesis.<ref>Hybertsen (1993), p. 10.</ref> This suggests that Victorian revivalism is a more likely source of the holiday than Irish immigration.

Although Halloween is often connected to Irish immigration, the holiday entered mainstream American culture in the late 19th century and in Protestant settings, as Karen Sue Hybertsen shows in her thesis.<ref>Hybertsen (1993), p. 10.</ref> This suggests that Victorian revivalism is a more likely source of the holiday than Irish immigration.

By the middle of the 19th century, Americans substituted pumpkins for turnips and secular costumes for those of saints. By the 1920s, there were community efforts to sanitize the carnival spirit and reduce vandalism. Trick-or-treating became common around 1940. It further transformed Halloween into a rite of consumerism and moving the age profile to younger children.

By the middle of the 19th century, Americans substituted pumpkins for turnips and secular costumes for those of saints. By the 1920s, there were community efforts to sanitize the carnival spirit and reduce vandalism. Trick-or-treating became common around 1940. It further transformed Halloween into a rite of consumerism and moving the age profile to younger children.