Halloween has roots in Ireland and Scotland, later spreading to North America and then worldwide. The Swedish sources commonly describe it as a pre- Christian Celtic festival tied to Samhain, marking the boundary between summer and winter, when the veil between worlds was believed to be thin, and spirits or supernatural forces were active. Over time, Halloween integrated Christian and local customs, evolving into the modern Halloween celebrated on October 31 with costumes, trick-or-treating, and decorations.
Key points about the origin and distribution
- Origin: Samhain, a Celtic festival observed by populations in Ireland and Scotland, is frequently cited as the historical precursor to Halloween. It signified the end of the harvest season and the approach of winter.
- Migration and transformation: Irish and Scottish emigration to North America in the 19th century helped popularize Halloween in the United States, after which it spread more broadly in the 20th century.
- Modern form: The contemporary Halloween practice includes costumes, carved vegetables (historically turnips, later pumpkins), trick-or-treating, and various festive activities. These elements reflect a blend of older folk customs and later cultural adaptations.
Linguistic note on the Swedish word ifrån
- The Swedish preposition ifrån means “from” or “away from.” It is used in contexts similar to English from, for example, “komma ifrån” (to escape/come from) or “lägga ifrån” (to deliver up/disgorge) depending on the construction.
If you’d like, I can tailor this to a specific audience (e.g., students learning Swedish, readers of a Swedish folklore article, or a comparative cultural study) or provide a concise timeline of Halloween’s historical development with key dates.