Who invented Halloween? October 31st, a time for tricks or treats, is near. Monsters will roam the streets, and witches will lurk around every corner. The barrier between the dead and the living will narrow, and ghosts will be everywhere. Grab a pumpkin lantern! It’s Halloween Season!
This time of the year stands out. Even casinos get filled with more eerie slots and spooky promotions for players. Why is it so special? Before the spooky festive holiday is observed, let’s learn about its history.
Today’s casino news exposes the origins of Halloween and how it has become notable in the casino industry.
Who Invented Halloween? Samhain’s Roots
Halloween is believed to mark the collision of the supernatural and the natural. Tracing its origin, we discovered Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival observed at the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. The name Samhain itself is interpreted as “end of summer.”
The Celts, who celebrated each new year on November 1st, occupied modern-day Ireland, the UK, and northern France around 2000 years ago. Beginning on October 31st and ending on November 1st, Samhain marked when these people collected harvests, stocked, and redistributed the profits ahead of winter while reserving some portions for warriors and shamans.
According to the Celts’ belief, the spiritual and physical barrier becomes extremely thin on New Year’s Eve, and the ghosts of the dead, dark forces, and other spiritual entities return to the earth’s surface from their habitations. These occurrences made this period a dangerous and unpredictable time. The Celts also believed the spirits were destructive to crops and other living things.
On Samhain Eve, the priests built massive and sacred bonfires, bringing the people together to offer sacrifices to ward off the spiritual forces and protect themselves. The Celts wore animal skin costumes, including masks of animal heads and skin, for the celebration.
Who Invented Halloween? Samhain to All Hallows Eve and Halloween
Centuries later, the Romans conquered most Celtic territories, and Christianity spread throughout Europe. The celebration of Samhain began to merge with Catholic customs, creating a mix of pagan and Christian traditions.
In the early years of Christianity, Pope Boniface IV established All Martyrs Day, a celebration of all Christian martyrs every May 13th in 609 AD. Pope Gregory III included all saints in the festival in 731 AD, moving it to November 1st and renaming it All Saints Day, which later became All Hallows Day.
Evolution into Halloween
Around 1000 AD, All Souls Day was also invented to honor the dead on November 2nd. The night before All Hallows Day, October 31st, was later called All Hallows Eve and observed with vigil, prayer, and fasting.
Over time, the name All Hallows Eve evolved into Halloween. However, people continued celebrating the holiday about spirits and ghosts, using traditional bonfires. Some used jack-o’-lanterns made from turnips.
Towards the mid-18th century, Irish and Scottish immigrants brought the tradition to the United States. Halloween took on new forms and new meaning in the US. The fires once lit to ward off spirits became jack-o’-lanterns carved from pumpkins instead of turnips. The eerie costumes that had once been worn to scare away evil spirits began to be worn for fun. Children go from door to door, searching for special treats. What a transformation!
So, who invented Halloween? There isn’t a specific name. The Celtic festival evolved into what we call Halloween today due to the powerful Romans’ conquering of the Celtic regions.
Casinos and Halloween
The connection between Halloween and the casino might seem blurred, but let’s examine it closely. Halloween is associated with elements of fear and uncertainty. It encourages us to take a chance and embrace the unknown. Similarly, casino games online are all about taking chances.
Furthermore, horror fans love online casinos at this time because of the services they provide. Casinos celebrate Halloween by incorporating “scary” elements to heighten players’ gaming experience.
So, don’t be surprised if you see ghosts, creepy trails, eerie designs, spooky decor, and other surprises at land-based and online casino games.
At Vegas Aces Casino, Halloween slots feature witches, vampires, pumpkins, and other symbols that can award jackpots. Horrific music may also play in the background for a fully immersive experience.
Final Thoughts
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a casual or pro player; a night at the casino on Halloween will surely be a spine-tingling experience. Watch out for trick or treat because you never know what will land you the big win.
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