Mythological creatures and serial killers in the streets. Houses invaded by ghosts and huge spiders that have left their marks all around. Spooky music all over the neighborhood. At any other season, these signs would be alarming, but not on October 31st, as it is Halloween, one of the most awaited and celebrated traditions in the United States, but also around the world.
Origins
Halloween's origins date back to Samhain, an ancient Celtic tradition believing that a portal between the world of the living and the dead was opened. That explains the name Halloween, once a contraction of Al Hallow Even, which stands for All Saint's Eve, and now a noun with an entry in English dictionaries.
Costumes and Trick-or-treating
Why do people wear costumes on Halloween? There are two explanations. During Samhain, people would wear costumes to scare away evil spirits that might pass through our world. Also, the ancient custom of “guising,” carried out by Irish and Scottish communities, took hold in the United States. This tradition consisted of people putting on costumes to recite readings or give a performance in exchange for a treat, be it fruit or coins.
Trick or triki
In a sense, trick or treating is a worldwide tradition, although in many regions the origins do not necessarily trace back to Halloween. In Mexico, for example, children go from door to door with their baskets asking for calaverita, which literally translates as little skull. However, especially in northern regions, children often ask for “triki triki”, a phonological adaptation of trick-or-treat, to ask for chocolates, candies and so on.
In Germany, on the other hand, the popular saying is “Süßes oder Saures”, which means “sweet or sour”; in Italy, the streets are filled with “dolcetto o scherzetto”; in France, although Halloween is regarded mainly as a commercial holiday, you will find people asking for “des bonbons ou un sort”, candy or a spell, and lots of citrouilles (pumpkins) around town.
Silent as a ghost
Speaking of phonetic curiosities, have you ever wondered about the strange spelling of “gh” words such as ghoul, night or ghost? The word “ghost” was originally spelled “gast” (pronounced “gahhst”). When William Caxton (merchant, diplomat and writer) set up his printing press in London after his stay in Bruges, he brought experienced Flemish typesetters with him. When they came across a familiar word, they would mix in their own spelling. The Old English word gast was similar to the Flemish word gheest. So they added a silent “h.” This change led to other spooky “gh” words as well.
How do you celebrate Halloween in your country? Do you go trick-or-treating, decorate your house or keep silent as a ghost?
As language specialists, we encounter all kinds of spooky creatures, like the ones in the following video. We hope you don’t encounter these monsters tonight ―Happy Halloween!