All Hallow's Eve to Halloween: Has Halloween Strayed Too Far?
By Jaline Nanninga
The Halloween we know today is nothing compared to what it was in the eighth century. For starters, it was not even called Halloween, it was All Hallow’s Eve. The holiday was meant to celebrate the dead and the lives they lived.
Today, it is all about who has the best costume, where the best party will be, which neighborhoods have the full-sized candy bars or what movies to watch for a horror movie marathon. One can only wonder: has Halloween strayed too far from its origin, or is it just right f0r the times?
Halloween, or All Hallow’s Eve if you prefer its original name, has very Pagan origins. In ancient Ireland, the Celts believed the day marked the start of winter, and was tied to the Festival of Samhain. On the eve of Samhain, the boundaries between the afterlife and the living were believed to blur; the souls of the dead could roam the earth and those who had died that year could finally enter the otherworld, according to Britannica.
Most believe that the holiday has completely lost its true meaning, therefore giving it no true purpose. Initially, the holiday was to celebrate the lives of the dead and to send them into the afterlife in a peaceful manner. Now, it is centered around costumes, and scary monsters like witches, vampires, werewolves, Frankenstein and ghosts.
While this is true, it is important to recognize that things are different now, too. Realistically, back then, people were extremely religious and superstitious. They lacked the knowledge and technology we have today. They had to be cautious because it was practically their only option. Whereas today, we can afford to be careless and seek to spend $50 on a trendy Halloween costume that will only be worn once. People can afford to buy mountains of candy and decorate their house for the fun of it. In the United States in 2025, consumers spent a total of $13.5 billion, which exceeded 2024’s record of $13.1 billion, according to Statista.
Today, parents believe that Halloween is rampant with satanic activity. Rumors of human sacrifices, occult meetings and offerings are constant throughout the country. According to Open University, the most common illegal and suspicious behavior that occurs are public mischief, trespassing and vandalism. All of these activities are far from occult and more just like young people doing stupid things to impress others, which is a phase everyone goes through.
One could argue that Halloween is simply adapting to the times. As traditions and society develop and change, so does Halloween. If it did not, it would be a thing of the past, ancient history just as the cultures that began it. Today’s society is largely based on capitalism, therefore our holidays – especially our big ones like Halloween – are going to reflect our capitalistic world.
Halloween is going to be secular whether people like it or not. In order to keep it around, it has to adapt. People can help keep it tame and safe, though, by keeping a close eye on possible mischief. While it may be fun, it is also a risky and dangerous time. Keep an eye on your environment and on people’s behavior, and Halloween can still be fun, even as it adapts to the times.