In Ray Bradbury’s The Halloween Tree, a group of boys are whisked away on a magical Halloween eve and venture through time to learn the true meaning of Halloween. They encounter many obstacles and fantastical sets.
They also encounter a great deal of folklore in the process, some of it true and some of it not true.
Today’s blog post is about the folklore of Halloween as it relates to the alleged nature of “sacrifice” in the process of celebration. We will examine the folkloric origins of “sacrifice,” the accusations, and the narratives of historical figures.
Sacrificial origins
The Celts have had a significant impact on our modern understanding of Halloween, as much of the celebration and nuanced enjoyment of the holiday (treats and celebration) come from these early stories of people in the hills starting large pyres as a crux for celebration.
The celebration of Halloween at that time wasn’t called “Halloween,” but, rather, “Samhain” (pronounced “sow-win”), which was celebrated from October 31st through November 1st.
As the folklore goes, the bloody history of Halloween included sacrifice and murder to keep the spirits at bay in a world where the walls of the living and dead became “thin.” Some researchers indicate that this was a time when the “nights grew longer and vegetation died off, the sagas represented doors opening between the lands of the living and dead” (Gerson).
These stories state that the Celts were at some point put in the position to sacrifice some of their children, grains, and cattle to the Fomorians of Irish Mythology (a monstrous race of hostile ne’er-do-wells).
As stated in The Irish Post: “According to the ancient ‘Book of Invasions’, each Samhain the people of one Irish village sacrificed two-thirds of their children, their corn and their milk to the supernatural Fomorians,” and, “According to the later Dindsenchas and the Annals of the Four Masters – which were written by Christian monks … that a first-born child would be sacrificed at the stone idol of Crom Cruach every Samhain.”
However, such stories are infused with myth, and it seems many historians interpret the Fomorians as symbolic of nature and its destructive forces; but, the superstitious nature of yesteryear people was apparent in their rituals and customs.
Sacrificial charges
It is explained in Greek Philosopher Strabo’s Geography that out of superstition the Celts created massive figures composed of straw and wood to use for these sacrifices.
According to some researchers “… Strabo records that ‘cattle and wild animals and all sorts of human beings’ were thrown into this colossus, and then burnt. Strabo also asserts that the ‘wicker man’ was just one method of human sacrifice …” and the druids would also, “shoot victims to death with arrows, or impale them in the temples” (Mingren).
The sacrificial claims don’t end with Strabo, however, as Julius Caesar himself alleged that the barbaric tradition was happening just outside the borders of Rome.
Caesar wrote that, “They (Gauls) believe, in effect, that, unless for a man’s life a man’s life be paid, the majesty of the immortal gods may not be appeased; and in public, as in private life they observe an ordinance of sacrifices of the same kind.”
He continued:
“Others use figures of immense size whose limbs, woven out of twigs, they fill with living men and set on fire, and the men perish in a sheet of flame. They believe that the execution of those who have been caught in the act of theft or robbery or some crime is more pleasing to the immortal gods; but when the supply of such fails they resort to the execution even of the innocent” (Tastes of History).
These allegations create a visceral image of bloodthirsty heathens waiting to bombard the Roman populace with their pagan ways. Thus, the narrative that the enemy was less civilized held true in history as well, whether true or false.
Contrary opinions
It’s important to note that Caesar may have been embellishing a bit, as it is pure speculation whether there were actual human sacrifices even in the most famous instances of presumed sacrifices. Researchers are unsure if some of the remains of historical sacrifices were actually the result of “a homicide, a violent robbery, or the execution of a criminal.”
As stated by Irish Central: “As of yet, no human remains have been found within a Celtic Gallic sanctuary that clearly indicates a violent death. In the case of singular skulls or headless bodies, decapitation appears to have taken place after death, and one cannot be certain that these humans were alive, or even intact when they arrived at the sanctuary.”
It seems as though the deaths related to sacrifice “predate the Roman era,” thus it is difficult to ascertain whether Caesar was embellishing for propagandistic purposes or not; but, considering the fearsome depictions of the Gauls in Roman society—Caesar’s intentions may not have been historically benevolent.
Additionally, a few sources speak to the idea that the Celts committed sacrifices in their time; however, many of the sources either point to Strabo, or Julius Caesar, who were either not present at these celebrations or were pushing a pro-nation narrative that overhyped the barbaric nature of the enemy.
However, it should be noted that the “Lindow Man” discovery seems to have been a human sacrifice to some degree, as his “head had been violently smashed and his neck had been strangled and slashed.” The reason for his sacrifice is a mystery, but some researchers have pointed to the Druids’ fears of continued Roman invasion (Owen). Yet, one instance of human sacrifice does not mean the Druids were killing people for their festivities in order to keep the spirits from harming them (Krul).
Conclusion
The Romans eventually conquered the Celts and their culture, and adopted the Celtic celebration of Samhain into both Feralia and Pomona—the former was a day of the dead and the latter was to celebrate apples. These celebrations, plus those of Samhain, have lived on in various ways, from eating snacks to playing tricks or dressing up in costumes.
But so has the brooding nature of Halloween as an evil holiday that has links to the Devil and human sacrifice. Certainly, folklore in this way has created a negative connotation for some cultures and traditions; in some cases, it has created the lasting impression that the uncivilized were taken with human sacrifice even though these cases come from the words of conquerors.
Either way, the modern Halloween tradition is devoid of human sacrifice, so one can go out into the night without fear of being assailed.
Works Cited
Dunne, Sean. “Did the ancient Celts practice human sacrifice?” Irish Central. May 31st, 2023. Web. https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/ancient-celts-human-sacrifice
Gershon, Livia. “From Samhain to Halloween.” JStor Daily. Oct. 10, 2018. Web. https://daily.jstor.org/from-samhain-to-halloween/
Krul, Paul. “Druids and Human Sacrifice?” The Druid Network. 2003. Web. https://druidnetwork.org/what-is-druidry/beliefs-and-definitions/articles/druids-and-human-sacrifice/
Mingren, Wu. “The Fearsome Wicker Man: An Eerie Way Druids Committed Human Sacrifice.” 14 Jan. 2021, ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-traditions/fearsome-wicker-man-eerie-way-druids-committed-human-sacrifice-00528
Owen, James. “Druids Committed Human Sacrifice, Cannibalism?” National Geographic. March 20, 2009. Web. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/druids-sacrifice-cannibalism
“Dispelling Some Myths: The Wicker Man.” Tastes Of History, 18 Aug. 2021,tastesofhistory.co.uk/post/dispelling-some-myths-the-wicker-man.
“Samhain: Seven facts about the spooky Irish festival which became Halloween.” Irish Post. October 28, 2022. Web. https://www.irishpost.com/news/samhain-seven-facts-about-the-spooky-irish-festival-which-became-halloween-105009
Leave a Reply