The history and origins of Halloween: a Halloween ritual to celebrate this ancient festival

A Halloween ritual is the perfect way to celebrate Halloween and pay tribute to the ancient traditions that gave rise to this festival. Today, these traditions provide the perfect excuse for people in Montreal and across Quebec to have a good time with family and friends.

IN SHORT

Halloween is an important festival that stems largely from ancient Celtic traditions. To get into the Halloween spirit, you can perform a full moon ritual.

The ideal time for this Halloween ritual is during the Hunter’s Moon, a name commonly given to the full moon in October.

Where Does Halloween Come From? The Influence of Samhain and All Saints’ Day

The Historical Origins of Halloween

It is impossible to talk about Halloween without mentioning Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival heralding the arrival of winter or the “dark season,” as the Celts called it. The precursor to modern-day Halloween, Samhain originated in Ireland 2,500 years ago. It is one of the four major festivals that mark the Celtic calendar, the others being Yule, Imbolc and Beltane.

In the 9th century, the rise of Christianity led to a blending of pagan and religious practices. The traditions of Samhain were merged with those of All Saints’ Day, a religious festival intended to commemorate the souls of the dead and honour the saints. In turn, this gave rise to All Hallows’ Eve (the eve of All Saints’ Day), which would later become Halloween.

One of the key characteristics shared by these celebrations is the belief that, at this time of year, the veil between the world of the living and that of the dead grows thinner. This is said to allow the living to communicate more easily with the loved ones they have lost. Consequently, malevolent spirits are said to find it easier to trouble people in our world.

What We Keep From All Saints’ Eve

This belief gave rise to the Halloween traditions we know today, the most popular of which is dressing up in scary costumes. Originally, the Celts practised this in the hope of going unnoticed amongst the wandering souls, thereby avoiding being troubled by malevolent spirits.

Similarly, trick-or-treating stems from the ancient custom of offering food to the souls of the dead, as it was believed that they influenced the abundance of harvests and the prosperity of the community.

Halloween: A Spiritual Festival – More Than Just an Excuse to Hand Out Sweets

Although it has been commercialized by modern capitalism, Halloween is a festival with spiritual roots. This celebration pays tribute to our connection with the cycles of nature by honouring the changing seasons and, by extension, the cycle of life and death.

Halloween rituals are based on the importance of connecting with our ancestors, with those who paved the way before us. It highlights the existence of another world: that of the dead. Being exposed in this way to death and to what is socially regarded as "less attractive" is an opportunity to increase our resilience and free ourselves from our fears.

In other words, it is an opportunity to cultivate our wisdom. In a performance-driven society focused on action and results, the masculine polarity (solar, yang, light) is often emphasized at the expense of the feminine (lunar, yin, darkness). It is interesting to note that our relationship with death reflects this imbalance, as we are accustomed to concealing everything associated with it, out of fear or revulsion.

Western cultures are completely detached from the reality of the cycle of life and death, but it is important to remember that one cannot exist without the other. If we were to relearn how to integrate the entire cycle into our reality, perhaps we would be less anxious. Perhaps this would help shed light on the meaning of life.

The Full Moon on October 26, 2026: the Hunter’s Moon

The full moon in October is known as the Hunter’s Moon. Indigenous peoples gave it this name simply because it is the best time of year for hunting. There is still plenty of light, and with the harvests over, the landscape is clear.

The Hunter’s Moon is associated with action, movement and our ability to take action. As a hunter, we want to focus our energy on a target, a goal or a project. We put our most effective strategies into action and make important decisions.

A Halloween and Full Moon Ritual to Get You in the Halloween Spirit

Here is a short guide to creating your own Halloween ritual, ideally to be performed on the evening of the Hunter’s Full Moon.

Essential Accessories and Tools

To create your full moon ritual, you will need:

• A yellow candle
• A pencil
• A piece of paper
• A tiger’s eye, citrine, or any other natural stone of your choice (optional)

Stages of the Ritual

In a quiet place, take three deep breaths to centre yourself. Light your candle.

Start by expressing your gratitude to the moon, naming the things in your life that make you feel good. Really feel the joy these things bring you in your body. In a comfortable position, take the time to clarify your thoughts, and think about the situations in your life where you want to take action.

Pick up your pencil and, on the piece of paper, list your intentions, phrasing them in the present tense (e.g. "I am tidying my desk," "I am signing up for a dance class," "I am applying for a new job," etc.). Write down what you truly wish to achieve whether it’s small and simple or big and important.

Paying close attention to every word, read aloud what you’ve written on the piece of paper.

Then meditate whilst gazing at the candle flame – a practice often known as fire scrying. Try to keep a peaceful mind; if thoughts arise, bring your attention back to the flame. You can meditate until the candle has burnt out completely, or gently blow it out, thanking the fire for its energy when you’re finished.

Give thanks to the energy of the full moon before bringing your ritual to a close. Feel free to modify or add elements to the ritual to personalize it. Let your creativity run free and remember that the most important thing is your intention.

The Hunter’s Full Moon is also a good time for a ritual of release. Just as trees shed their leaves in autumn, let go of what no longer serves you.

Finally, there’s nothing better than reconnecting with nature to absorb the powerful energies of the cosmos. Go outside, take a walk and take the time to breathe in the fresh air!

Pierres D’Ailleurs: Satisfying Your Spiritual Side

Semi-precious stones and jewellery carry a range of spiritual symbols and meanings, making them ideal for performing a Halloween ritual. If you’re looking for a piece of jewellery that reflects your inner self, visit our shop or browse our collection online to make your purchase.

At Pierres D’Ailleurs in Montreal, we combine spirituality with good taste!

FAQ

Where Does Halloween Come From?

Halloween is a festival that arose from the fusion of All Saints’ Day and Samhain as Christianity spread rapidly across Celtic lands.

This fusion took the form of All Hallows’ Eve (the eve of All Saints’ Day), which later became Halloween.

What Is Samhain?

Samhain is an ancient Celtic festival that marked the end of summer and the arrival of the dark season. It was one of the four major Celtic festivals at the time and is one of the main inspirations for modern Halloween.

Why Do We Dress Up for Halloween?

Traditionally, people would dress up as something frightening to confuse the spirits and avoid alerting malevolent spirits. This spiritual tradition subsequently evolved into a custom that we still practise today.

What Is the Hunter’s Full Moon?

The Hunter’s Full Moon is the name given to the October full moon in certain traditions. This name stems from the idea that this full moon occurs when the harvest is over and conditions are favourable for hunting.