Every year millions of people around the
Country spill into streets
dressed as fairies goblins characters
from their favorite movie franchise
and everything in between partying and
making mischief
but outside of a good time how many know
why they do it
today halloween is a billion dollar
industry but exactly
how did it get there
while today halloween is synonymous with
commercialism it wasn't always that way
the word halloween comes from the words
hollow meaning holy person
and een deriving as a contraction of eve
and all hallows eve finds its origins
all the way back in the time of the
ancient celtic pagans with the holiday
of samhain
a three-day fire festival that
essentially celebrated death and rebirth
the celts who lived in what is now
ireland scotland the uk and parts of
northern europe
based their calendar on the wheel of a
year essentially divided into two halves
the light and the dark when one gave way
to the other this transition was marked
by a fire festival
the word samhain translates in the
modern irish to summer's end
samhain celebrated the dead and
particularly the celebratory feast paid
homage to loved ones who had passed away
recently
essentially as an invitation for their
spirits to rejoin the living
many of sauwan's original rituals have
been lost but what we do know of their
holiday traditions from celtic folklore
and ancient roman historians
is that they were intended to connect
them to spirits including costumes most
likely animal or furs to help them hide
from the unfriendly ones
feasting and making lanterns from
hollowed out gourds seemingly the birth
of the modern pumpkin jack-o-lantern
sacrifices generally of crops or animals
were made during this time as an
offering to the spirits
it was popular for tricks or pranks to
be played by humans and blamed on
mischievous spirits
as a result of the roman invasion with
most of the celtic land being conquered
by rome in 43 ce
the spread of christianity and
catholicism would force pagan celtic
traditions to evolve or be completely
repressed
in part many celtic traditions and
popular pagan practices were reframed to
fit within a christian narrative as a
way of converting people with greater
comfort and ease
samhain would evolve into all saints day
which was also referred to as
all hallows day and was intended to be a
day to celebrate the christian saints
and martyrs
essentially instead of honoring pagan
gods and mischievous spirits
they now celebrated christian figures
while the sacrifices were replaced by
food offerings to the poor
the tricks and pranks continued but
instead they were now attributed to the
spirits of the saints
halloween evolved as a more secular
version of all hallows eve
and eventually it would become more
popular in common practice than all
saints day
while halloween has its origins in the
british isles there's a great disparity
in its popularity in former british
colonies
the puritans who came to colonize
america were protestant
and did not celebrate holidays of the
catholic church as they were believed to
lead to idolatry
in the early days of
colonies celebrations of halloweens were
mostly forbidden as they were deemed
too pagan or too catholic by the
protestant colonizers
though elements of it began to
incorporate into secular harvest related
events in the 1800s
the mid 19th century saw a large influx
of immigrants entering the country
especially irish immigrants who were
greatly impacted by the potato famine
with these people came halloween customs
out of which one of america's favorite
holidays was formed
in keeping with the mischief children
would dress in costumes and be given
money or fruit
for artistic offerings like poetry songs
or even jokes instead of prayers
by the late 19th century children were
playing seemingly innocuous pranks on
their small local communities
adults would soon find incentive to
dissuade children from playing pranks
enter trick-or-treating the 20th century
would finally see the commercialization
of halloween
by the 1920s and 30s halloween
merchandise evolved to pre-made costumes
for both children and adults
after world war ii in the 1950s the
economic boom had candy manufacturers
getting on the halloween bandwagon
movies and tv are also largely
responsible for the proliferation of
halloween as a mass-market holiday
cinemas in the 50s offered scary movie
festivals
and in the 60s the new television
industry began running halloween
specials during halloween season
by 2015 the national retail federation
predicted spending on halloween could
reach 6.9 billion
dollars whether you believe that we've
lost the meaning or not
halloween has since evolved far beyond
the days of pagan fire festivals
for more than a month out of the year
costume stores show up out of nowhere
candy corn and halloween themed candies
dominate whole aisles of grocery stores
and spooky shows and movies build out
entire tv station schedules
whether you like it or not whether you
want to dress up as a gruesome g
About the Creator
Anthony Egboh Nwiya
Am an easy going guy down to earth
Keep reading
More stories from Anthony Egboh Nwiya and writers in History and other communities.
Unity is everything
Stereotypes seem to be something we cannot escape. When I say we I am referring to we, as a people. We all are guilty of stereotyping one another, in fact it’s something that we learn to do, it usually first taught by our family. Stereotyping is basically wrongly believing all people are the same based off certain criteria’s. Once you are old enough to go to school and begin to interact with other culturally diverse people you pick and learn new things about others, and you began to stereotype for yourself. Two groups of people that are constantly facing stereotypes are African Americans and Asian Americans. Despite how successful the individuals that make up these two groups up become they will always be haunted by the stereotypes that come …show more content…
By Anthony Egboh Nwiya 2 years ago in History
T.S. Eliot – The Poet of a Broken World
In the autumn of 1888, in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, a boy named Thomas Stearns Eliot was born into a respectable and thoughtful family. His father was a successful businessman, and his mother, Charlotte, was a teacher and a poet. From an early age, young Thomas—who would later be known to the world simply as T.S. Eliot—grew up surrounded by books, ideas, and quiet discipline. St. Louis, resting beside the Mississippi River, was a city of movement and trade. Yet Eliot was not drawn to noise or crowds. He was a quiet child, often reading alone. He suffered from a double hernia as a boy, which limited his physical activities. While other children played rough games, Eliot stayed indoors, exploring literature and philosophy. In many ways, this isolation shaped his inner world. He learned to observe deeply and to think carefully—qualities that would later define his poetry. As a young man, Eliot attended Harvard University. There, he studied philosophy, literature, and languages. He became fascinated with French poets like Charles Baudelaire and Jules Laforgue. From them, he learned how poetry could express the confusion and complexity of modern life. He also studied ancient texts, Sanskrit, and Eastern philosophy. These influences would later appear in his most famous works. After Harvard, Eliot traveled to Paris to study at the Sorbonne. Europe was changing rapidly. The old traditions were fading, and new ideas were rising. Eliot felt drawn to this shifting world. Eventually, he moved to England in 1914, just as World War I began. It was a time of uncertainty and fear. The war shook Europe to its core, and many people felt that civilization itself was breaking apart. In London, Eliot struggled at first. He worked as a teacher and later as a clerk in a bank. The job was dull and exhausting, but it paid the bills. At the same time, he continued writing poetry in his spare hours. In 1915, he married Vivienne Haigh-Wood. Their marriage was troubled and filled with emotional strain. Vivienne suffered from health problems, and Eliot himself battled anxiety and exhaustion. Their difficult relationship would deeply influence his writing. In 1915, Eliot published “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.” It was unlike traditional poetry. Instead of heroic themes or romantic beauty, it showed a nervous, uncertain man wandering through a modern city, questioning himself and his life. “Do I dare?” Prufrock repeatedly asks. The poem captured the insecurity of modern individuals—people living in crowded cities yet feeling painfully alone. At first, many readers were confused by Eliot’s style. His poems were fragmented, filled with sudden shifts, cultural references, and broken images. But this was intentional. Eliot believed that modern life itself was fragmented. The old sense of unity and faith had been shattered by industrialization, war, and doubt. Poetry, he felt, should reflect that reality honestly. In 1922, Eliot published his masterpiece: The Waste Land. The poem was written during one of the darkest periods of his life. He was mentally and physically exhausted. His marriage was falling apart. Europe was still recovering from the horrors of World War I. The poem became a portrait of a world spiritually empty and emotionally dry—like a wasteland. The Waste Land is filled with voices, languages, myths, and sudden changes. It moves from ancient legends to modern London streets. It speaks of lost love, broken faith, and the search for meaning. Many readers found it difficult, but they also recognized its power. It perfectly captured the mood of the 20th century—a century marked by conflict and uncertainty. Eliot did not believe that poetry should simply express personal emotion. Instead, he argued that poets should connect the present with the past. He called this idea the “historical sense.” In his essays, especially “Tradition and the Individual Talent,” he explained that a poet must understand and respect literary tradition while also creating something new. This balance made Eliot not only a great poet but also a powerful literary critic. In 1927, Eliot made two life-changing decisions. He became a British citizen, and he converted to Anglican Christianity. His faith became central to his later works. Unlike the despair of The Waste Land, his later poetry showed a deeper spiritual search. In poems like “Ash Wednesday” and later Four Quartets, Eliot explored themes of time, redemption, and divine grace. Four Quartets, written during World War II, is considered by many to be his finest achievement. In these four long poems—“Burnt Norton,” “East Coker,” “The Dry Salvages,” and “Little Gidding”—Eliot meditates on time, memory, suffering, and faith. While the world once again burned in war, Eliot wrote about stillness and spiritual hope. He suggested that even in chaos, there is a deeper order if one learns to listen and reflect. By this time, Eliot was widely respected. In 1948, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. The award recognized his outstanding contribution to modern poetry and criticism. Yet fame did not change his quiet personality. He remained reserved and serious, often dressed formally, speaking carefully, and living modestly. After years of unhappiness, Vivienne was placed in a mental institution in 1938, where she later died. Eliot rarely spoke publicly about their marriage, but its emotional impact stayed with him. In 1957, at the age of 68, he married Valerie Fletcher, who was much younger than he was. This second marriage brought him peace and happiness in his later years. Throughout his life, Eliot believed that poetry was not merely decoration or entertainment. For him, it was a serious art—one that required discipline, intelligence, and emotional honesty. He once wrote that genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood. That is, even when readers do not fully grasp every reference or symbol, they can still feel its truth. T.S. Eliot died on January 4, 1965, in London. His ashes were buried in East Coker, the English village from which his ancestors had emigrated to America centuries earlier. On his memorial plaque are words from Four Quartets: “In my beginning is my end.” It is a line that reflects his lifelong meditation on time and eternity. Eliot’s legacy remains powerful. He helped shape modern poetry, pushing it away from simple romantic expression toward intellectual depth and emotional complexity. His work challenged readers to think, to question, and to confront the spiritual emptiness of modern life. Yet he also offered hope—that through reflection, faith, and tradition, meaning can be rediscovered. In many ways, T.S. Eliot was a poet of paradox. He was an American who became deeply British. He wrote about despair yet searched for faith. He described fragmentation but longed for unity. His poetry may seem difficult, but beneath its complexity lies a sincere attempt to understand the human condition in a changing world. Today, students across the world still read The Waste Land and Four Quartets. Scholars debate his ideas. Writers study his techniques. But beyond the academic discussions, Eliot’s true achievement lies in this: he gave voice to the anxieties of modern humanity while pointing quietly toward spiritual renewal. From the quiet boy in St. Louis to the Nobel Prize–winning poet in London, T.S. Eliot’s life was a journey through doubt, suffering, intellect, and faith. His words continue to echo through time—reminding us that even in a wasteland, there is the possibility of rain.
By The best writer about 6 hours ago in History
Benjamin Franklin: The Mind That Helped Build a Nation
Benjamin Franklin was not born into greatness; he built it piece by piece with curiosity, discipline, and an unshakable belief in the power of learning. Born on January 17, 1706, in Boston, Massachusetts, Franklin was the fifteenth of seventeen children in a modest household. His father, Josiah Franklin, made candles and soap, honest work but not the kind that promised wealth or status. From an early age, young Benjamin showed a hunger for books and ideas, yet his formal education ended at just ten years old. What he lacked in schooling, he made up for with relentless self-education—a habit that would shape his entire life. Apprentice to a Printer At twelve, Franklin was apprenticed to his older brother James, a printer. The print shop became Benjamin’s classroom. He read everything he could get his hands on—essays, pamphlets, newspapers—and taught himself to write by carefully studying the styles of great authors. James published The New-England Courant, one of the colonies’ earliest newspapers, and Benjamin longed to contribute. Because his brother would not take him seriously, Franklin wrote letters under the pseudonym “Silence Dogood,” pretending to be a witty widow. The letters were published and widely admired. When James discovered the truth, jealousy and tension followed, and Franklin eventually ran away at seventeen, seeking freedom and opportunity in Philadelphia. Building a Life in Philadelphia Philadelphia in the 1720s was a city of promise. Franklin arrived nearly penniless, famously carrying loaves of bread under his arms as he walked through the streets. Yet he possessed something more valuable than money: determination. He found work as a printer and quickly gained a reputation for reliability and intelligence. Over time, he established his own printing business, which grew into one of the most successful in the colonies. Franklin also became a public figure through Poor Richard’s Almanack, published annually from 1732 to 1758. Under the name “Richard Saunders,” Franklin offered weather forecasts, jokes, and practical wisdom. Sayings like “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise” reflected his belief in hard work and common sense. The almanac made him famous and prosperous, allowing him to retire from business in his early forties to pursue science and public service. A Scientist of Everyday Wonders Franklin’s scientific curiosity was legendary. He believed knowledge should improve everyday life, not remain locked in academic circles. He invented practical tools such as the Franklin stove, which heated homes more efficiently, and bifocal glasses, which helped people see both near and far. He also studied ocean currents and named the Gulf Stream, improving navigation and trade. His most famous scientific experiment involved electricity. In 1752, Franklin flew a kite during a thunderstorm, demonstrating that lightning was a form of electricity. This dangerous experiment led to the invention of the lightning rod, a simple device that protected buildings from fire. Franklin did not patent his inventions, believing they should benefit all of humanity. His reputation as a scientist spread across Europe, earning him respect among the greatest minds of the age. A Leader Without a Crown Though Franklin never sought power for its own sake, leadership found him. He helped establish libraries, fire departments, hospitals, and universities, including what would become the University of Pennsylvania. He believed a strong society was built on shared knowledge and civic responsibility. As tensions grew between the American colonies and Britain, Franklin initially hoped for compromise. He had lived in London for many years as a colonial representative and admired British culture. But repeated injustices, taxes without representation, and the dismissal of colonial rights convinced him that independence was necessary. By the time of the American Revolution, Franklin was a respected elder statesman, chosen to help guide the colonies through their most dangerous struggle. Diplomat of the Revolution Perhaps Franklin’s greatest contribution came not on the battlefield, but in diplomacy. Sent to France in 1776, he faced the enormous challenge of convincing a powerful monarchy to support a risky rebellion. Franklin’s charm, wit, and reputation worked wonders. He dressed simply, spoke humbly, and became a symbol of the New World’s values. French philosophers admired him; common people celebrated him. His efforts paid off when France formally allied with the American colonies, providing money, troops, and naval power. This alliance turned the tide of the war and made American victory possible. Without Franklin’s diplomacy, the Revolution might have failed. Shaping a New Nation After the war, Franklin returned home as a hero. Though elderly and in poor health, he continued to serve. In 1787, at the age of 81, he attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. While he did not speak often, his words carried great weight. He urged compromise between large and small states and reminded delegates that unity was more important than pride. His calm wisdom helped shape the United States Constitution. Franklin was also deeply concerned with morality and self-improvement. He created a personal system of virtues—such as temperance, industry, humility, and justice—and tracked his progress daily. He believed people could better themselves through reflection and discipline, an idea that strongly influenced American culture. Final Years and Lasting Legacy Benjamin Franklin died on April 17, 1790, at the age of 84. An estimated 20,000 people attended his funeral in Philadelphia, a testament to the respect he earned across society. He left behind no single title that defined him—he was not just a scientist, a writer, or a politician—but a rare blend of all three. Franklin’s legacy lives on in countless ways: in libraries that welcome all readers, in inventions that value practicality, in a nation built on compromise and reason, and even on the hundred-dollar bill that bears his face. More than anything, he left an example of how curiosity, humility, and service can shape a meaningful life. Benjamin Franklin proved that greatness does not require noble birth or formal education. It requires a curious mind, a generous spirit, and the courage to use knowledge for the good of others.
By The best writer 6 days ago in History
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.