American History Hit

Episode: "American Origins of Halloween"

Host: Don Wildman
Guest: Dr. Kelly Fitzgerald, Head of the School of Irish Celtic Studies and Folklore, University College Dublin
Date: October 30, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the origins of Halloween, tracing its roots from ancient Celtic rituals in Ireland to its transformation and flourishing as a uniquely American holiday. Don Wildman is joined by Dr. Kelly Fitzgerald, an American-born scholar living in Ireland, for an exploration of Halloween’s historical, spiritual, and cultural journey—revealing how Americans put their own distinctive spin on a once-agrarian, myth-laden festival.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Samhain: The Celtic Roots of Halloween (~00:32–07:36)

• Ancient Origins: Halloween derives from the pre-Christian Celtic festival of Samhain, marking the end of summer and the start of winter, a liminal time when the barrier between the living and the dead was thought to be thinnest.

• Agricultural Calendar: The Celtic year was divided into four quarters, each marked by festivals; Samhain signified the conclusion of the harvest and the beginning of the dark half of the year.

• Community Celebration: Festivals were essential not only for marking seasonal change but also for community gathering, matchmaking, and letting off steam after hard labor.

• Connection to Death: With the onset of winter, the festival naturally involved themes of mortality, honoring ancestors, and acknowledging the supernatural.

  "Everything around us. The leaves are falling off the trees, the darkness is coming in. It is the absolute kind of ideal time to kind of spend reflecting on those who have passed before us. Where are they now? All of that is coming into this time of year."
  — Dr. Kelly Fitzgerald [07:07]

2. Pagan to Christian – The Blending of Traditions (~07:36–11:24)

• Gradual Cultural Exchange: The transition from Celtic paganism to Christianity was gradual and blended, rather than an abrupt shift.

• Adoption by the Church: The church incorporated preexisting seasonal festivals into Christian calendars, creating All Hallows’ Eve (Halloween), All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day.

• Supernatural Elements: The Irish calendar’s quarter days, particularly Samhain and May Day, held strong supernatural associations but Halloween retained a distinct link to the realm of the dead.

  "Conversion is more of an act of time... The church giving its dates to coincide with the calendar and how it was already looked at."
  — Dr. Kelly Fitzgerald [09:15]

3. Customs and Symbols: Protection, Connection, and Celebration (~11:24–15:33)

• Costumes and Guising: Dressing up originated as a way to ward off spirits and the supernatural, rather than an homage to the dead specifically.

• Supernatural vs. Dead: Dr. Fitzgerald distinguishes between the supernatural (otherworldly fairies, spirits) and the dead in Irish lore—a nuance often lost in American adaptations.

• Household Rituals: Cleaning the house and visiting graves, similar to the Mexican "Day of the Dead," were ways to welcome returning ancestors and maintain spiritual order.

  "The supernatural are not the dead ... In America ... going through the Victorian Gothic period, that horror element comes through and also in American tradition, that fear of hell and damnation... that is not how you see Halloween in Ireland."
  — Dr. Kelly Fitzgerald [13:28]

4. Halloween’s Journey to America: Transformation and Commercialization (~15:33–26:13)

• Immigration Influence: Irish immigration brought Samhain customs to North America. Combined with the American context—Protestant religiosity, new landscapes, and the rise of mass culture—these traditions evolved.

• Rise of the Occult and Gothic: 19th-century America and England saw a fascination with the occult and Gothic horror. Scientific advances and spiritualism (seances, ghost stories) intersected with holiday customs.

• Washington Irving & American Literature: Short stories like "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" played a major role in shifting the focus towards horror and entertainment.

• The Candy & Costume Boom: The mercantile spirit of the U.S. turned Halloween into a major commercial event, reflected in the vast market for decorations, candy, and store-bought costumes.

  "All kinds of thrilling ideas like death and gore and the entertainment value of fear is embraced. And that becomes a way of selling short stories, publishing things, and eventually selling candy is really where this all goes to, isn't it?"
  — Don Wildman [25:16]

5. Comparative Traditions: Ireland, America, and Beyond (~26:13–32:17)

• Día de los Muertos: The Mexican "Day of the Dead" shares roots with Halloween, especially the focus on ancestor veneration and Catholic influences, but material culture is more prominent in the Mexican tradition.

• Costume Functions: Mumming and guising in Ireland served to confuse supernatural forces, particularly fairies, who were believed to kidnap people. American costumes became more about engaging with imagery of the dead and fantasy.

• Homemade vs. Store-Bought: Irish traditions favor homemade costumes; American practices are heavily commercialized.

  "That's why we have this kind of guising or this mumming or dressing up…the American imagery really plays into the dead and creates the dead to take on this kind of more magical side of things than would have originally been there."
  — Dr. Kelly Fitzgerald [27:45]

6. Trick-or-Treating, Mischief, and Community Rituals (~32:17–36:19)

• Roots of Trick-or-Treating: Derived from "souling," a tradition where people visited homes for soul cakes in exchange for prayers—combining charity, Christian values, and earlier mumming customs.

• Mischief Night: Unique to some American communities, this tradition of sanctioned mischief allowed kids to break social norms in a playful, structured way, echoing ancient rituals for temporary social inversion.

• Commercialization and Modern Media: The rise of Hollywood horror and widespread imagery (postcards, films) standardized the American Halloween experience and blended it further with consumer culture.

  "It's really interesting when society allows people to behave in a way that's not accepted on the everyday. You kind of get it out ... it's a purge."
  — Dr. Kelly Fitzgerald [34:37]

7. Modern Differences: Halloween in Ireland vs. America (~38:35–39:32)

• Fireworks in Ireland: Unlike the U.S., where fireworks are for July 4th, Ireland sets them off at Halloween. The dead/supernatural binary is stronger now in Irish Halloween, arguably under American influence.

• Secularization: In both cultures, Halloween has evolved into a mostly secular, communal holiday, maintaining social cohesion and linking participants to ages-old traditions.

  "It's wonderful because I've never done any fieldwork in a community that doesn't have Halloween happening there…Here in Ireland, it's the time of year for fireworks."
  — Dr. Kelly Fitzgerald [38:42]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Halloween, how did this wonderfully colorful and honestly weird holiday wash up on the shores of our otherwise God-fearing nation?"
  — Don Wildman [00:32]
• "Conversion is more of an act of time…It's not that you just wake up one morning and everything changes."
  — Dr. Kelly Fitzgerald [07:48]
• "In America, that dressing up is almost to engage with the dead in a very different way...the American imagery really plays into the dead."
  — Dr. Kelly Fitzgerald [27:45]
• "My hometown, southern New Jersey, we would have Mischief Night...everyone knew it was all tongue in cheek."
  — Don Wildman [33:58]
• "It's important, though, to keep in mind...as our children go out onto the streets, that they're taking part in an ancient tradition. It's fascinating and rather lovely, too."
  — Don Wildman [38:02]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Origins and Celtic Samhain: [00:32–07:36]
• Pagan-Christian Blending: [07:36–11:24]
• Customs and Meanings: [11:24–15:33]
• Immigration and Americanization: [15:33–26:13]
• Comparative Traditions (Día de los Muertos, costumes): [26:13–32:17]
• Trick-or-Treating and Mischief: [32:17–36:19]
• Commercialization and Modern Observance: [36:19–39:32]

Final Note

This episode unpacks the rich tapestry of beliefs, rituals, and community functions that have shaped Halloween from its ancient roots to its place in contemporary American culture. With engaging anecdotes, thoughtful context, and a cross-cultural lens, listeners come away with a deeper appreciation for one of the oddest and most enduring American holidays—and what it means to gather (and scare) together in the autumn dark.