By Rizzu Rai, rr193@uakron.edu
In present times, the main reason people celebrate Halloween is to get candy, but when comparing the origin of the holiday to the modern version, people wonder, how did candy become such a major part of Halloween?
The origin of Halloween: The roots of Halloween tie back to the Celtic festival Samhain. Samhain is a pagan celebration that welcomes the harvest which occurs at the end of summer and marks the new year. The Celtics believed that on this day, the barrier between the human and spiritual world becomes thinner which allows spirits to harm people so they dress up in costumes to confuse the spirits.
When candy started being used on Halloween: In the 1930s, trick or treating began but children weren’t given candy, instead, they were given homemade goods and toys. The 1950s was when candy companies started promoting their products for Halloween. Their affordability made them a more convenient option which is why candy started being used in the holiday.
Modern-Day Halloween: Nowadays, Halloween is merely a fun holiday for people of all ages to dress up and have fun. Although the holiday has drastically changed, it is important to acknowledge the changes that have come over time to Halloween so you can truly understand the holiday.
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