Hallowe'en / Walpurgis Eve

We know that Hallowe'en is important: it is the number two holiday (behind Christmas) for generating revenue [a radio report in 2005 said it was number 6, but a radio report in 2011 again said it was number 2], and the number three day (behind New Year's Eve and Superbowl Sunday) for adult parties. But what is its significance?

Too few people appreciate the true significance of Hallowe'en. Most know it is All Hallows' Eve, the eve of All Saints Day. Some misassociate it with All Souls Day (November 2, the Day of the Dead). But it truly predates Christianity. Its significance is simply that winter is coming. Winter is cold, not just for mortal man, but for evil spirits, hobgoblins, imps, will-o-the-wisps, and the ilk. Therefore they retire into the bowels of the Earth at midnight on October 31 for six months. There is much mischief prior to midnight, because it is their last chance to play pranks on mortal man for six months. It is not known why in England the pranks do not occur until Guy Fawkes Day (November 5);(alternative Guy Fawkes Site).

There are other accounts of the origins of Hallowe'en, including Celtic, Scottish, and Pagan accounts.

Six months from Hallowe'en is Walpurgis Eve(another link), and at midnight is when the evil spirits, hobgoblins, will-o-the-wisps, imps, and the ilk emerge from the bowels of the Earth with six months of pent up mischief. Hence the general mayhem after midnight, especially in the German University towns. The debauchery on Walpurgis Eve does not reflect the life of St. Walpurgis (Walpurga), May first is not even her primary feast day, but only a translation feast acknowledging when some of her bones were moved. Her misfortune is that there was an old fertility goddess named Waldborg in the region where she set up her monastery, and the names have become confused.

Lest you believe that you are safe from all evil between Hallowe'en and Walpurgis Eve, be advised that vampires, withches, and others who abhor the splendor of God as evidenced in the Summer are only present between St. Andrew's Day (November 30) and St. George's Day (April 23). This does provide a little window of safety in the Fall, but those of you who think you see a short window of safety in the Spring are advised that vampires observe the Julian calendar, hence are active until May 6 by the Gregorian calendar.

[More information is available at theherald.org or http://deil.lang.uiuc.edu/web.pages/holidays/Halloween.html.]

October 1999, revised October 2011

campbell@math.uni.edu
http://www.math.uni.edu/~campbell