There are many debates on if schools should be out for Halloween. This debate intercludes with the other debate on whether Halloween should even be considered a “holiday.” Looking at the history of Halloween
, what it is exactly, why there are sparked debates, and if it should be considered a national holiday, we can understand why this is a hot topic.
Halloween is on October 31, across the United States; this year it falls on a Tuesday, and that means that school is still in session. Debates have been sparked on if Halloween should let kids be out of school the day of and if it should be considered a national “holiday.” The debate is more on the side of ‘no’ on both cases. Mainly due to the religious backgrounds of individuals concerning Halloween.
Halloween came “from the ancient Celtic holiday of Samhain” and has evolved from the “fear of ghosts and ghouls” to “costumes and candy” (Halloween). The Celtics, or Celts, made this day to “mark the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, also believed that that the change of seasons was a bridge to the world of the dead,” until it transitioned to a pagan ritual, then to what we know it as today (Halloween).
It’s one of the most popular holidays and not many know of it’s true origin. October 31st falls on the last day of the Celtic calendar and honored the dead through a pagan holiday. “Halloween was referred to as All Hallows Eve and dates back to over 2000 years ago” (Halloween History). All Hallows Eve is the night before All Saints Day, November 1st, and “was created by Christians to convert pagans;” which the Catholic church honored saints on this day (Halloween History).
With the Celts, they believed that the souls of the dead would roam around their streets, so they left out “gifts and treats… to pacify the evil and ensure next years crops would be plentiful. This custom evolved into trick-or-treating” (Halloween History). This is ultimately where the term “Halloween” was founded.
With the debate concerning if Halloween should be a national holiday, there are many viewpoints. Many say that Halloween should be a legal holiday where school should be out because of the popularity and commercial increases surrounding it, like Christmas. However, if you are going to compare Christmas with Halloween, then you should know the history behind each of them. Christmas is mainly a religious holiday, but also celebrated by non-religious people. “Americans could give themselves an economic treat whole creating space for a valuable discussion (and getting a day off)” (Bergado).
You should know have a broader understanding of how Halloween came to be and why it’s so debated to be a legal national holiday, like Christmas. If you are going to compare the two, then you should know the religious aspects and backgrounds of both. If you are pro for Halloween becoming a holiday, then you should be able to have discussions on where it came from and how it came to be.
References
Bergado, Gabe. “Halloween Should Be a Federal Holiday.” Inverse, 29 Oct. 2016, www.inverse.com/article/22949-halloween-american-federal-holiday-death-mortality.
“Halloween.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/topics/halloween.
“Halloween History & Origin.” Halloween History and Origin, Halloween Web, www.halloween-website.com/history.htm.
