What is Halloween?

0:00 Welcome to Philosophy is not boring by Kadopoly.com. I'm Mira. And I'm Finn. Before we dive in today, we want to send a very happy, belated seventh birthday to Agnes. Happy birthday, Agnes! Seven is such a great age. It really is. And Agnes, because you just celebrated adding another year to your story, today's big question about time, memory, and the people who came before us is absolutely perfect for you.

0:33 If you haven't already, tap follow wherever you're listening so you never miss an episode.

0:38 Alright, Finn, picture this. You are putting on your costume, the sun is going down, and there are carved pumpkins glowing on people's porches. Have you ever wondered why Halloween is specifically on October 31st? Why not April or June?

0:56 I mean, I just thought it was the official start of candy season. Isn't it just about dressing up?

1:02 That's what it feels like today, but the date is actually tied to one of the biggest, oldest mysteries humans have ever thought about. Wait, really? What mystery? The mystery of what happens when people we love die. And whether death means they are actually gone from our family, or if they somehow still belong with us.

1:24 So, let's start with the word itself. Halloween is actually a mashup of older words. It comes from All Hallows Eve.

1:33 All Hallows Eve? What is a hallow? Is that like a hollow tree?

1:39 Good guess, but no! In Old English, a hallow meant a holy person or a saint. So All Hallows Eve literally just means the evening before All Saints Day.

1:51 Oh, I get it. Like how Christmas Eve is the night before Christmas.

1:56 Exactly! In the Christian tradition, November 1st is All Saints Day, to honour holy people. And then November 2nd is All Souls Day, which is a day to remember everyone else who has died.

2:09 So the days right after Halloween are all about remembering people who aren't alive anymore.

2:15 Yes, but the fascinating thing is, it's not just a Christian idea. Long before that, thousands of years ago, in Ireland and Scotland, the ancient Celts had a festival at this exact same time of year. The Celts? What was their festival called? It was called Sawin. That's spelled S-A-M-H-A-I-N, but it's pronounced Sawin.

2:39 And they were chewing on a really big problem. How do we deal with the dark, cold winter coming? And how do we stay connected to our ancestors? The Celts believed that during Sawin, at the end of October, the invisible boundary between our world and the world of the spirits grew really thin.

2:57 Wait, a thin boundary? Does that mean ghosts and scary stuff coming through? Because I don't know how I feel about that.

3:06 That's a totally normal reaction, Finn. It sounds a little spooky to us now, but for the Celts, it actually wasn't about being scared. It was a cosy, comforting idea. Cozy? How is a spirit boundary cozy? Because they believed it meant the people they loved who had died could come back for a visit. Families would even set an extra place at their dinner table just to welcome their ancestors in.

3:33 Oh wow!

3:34 So instead of hiding from them, they were inviting them to dinner. That is actually really sweet.

3:40 Yes, and this exact same idea popped up on the other side of the world too. In Mexico, right at the same time of year, from November 1st to the 2nd, people celebrate Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. I've seen that.

3:56 They have those beautifully painted sugar skulls, right? Exactly.

4:01 Families build bright, beautiful altars called ofrendas in their homes. They put out photos of the people they miss, light candles, and scatter thousands of bright orange marigold flowers. Why marigolds? They believe the bright orange colour and the strong, sweet smell act like a bridge of light, guiding their loved ones back home for a party.

4:25 And they set out the person's favourite foods too.

4:28 Oh man, if it was my ancestors inviting me back, they would definitely need to leave out a giant bowl of macaroni and cheese.

4:36 I'm sure they would! But here's where it gets even more amazing. This feeling that we need a time to welcome our ancestors isn't just tied to autumn or Halloween. It isn't? Where else does it happen? In Japan, there is a beautiful Buddhist tradition called Obon. But it happens in the summer. People hang glowing paper lanterns outside their houses to guide the spirits of their ancestors back home.

5:03 Wait, so let me get this straight. The ancient Celts in Ireland, people celebrating Day of the Dead in Mexico and the Obon Festival in Japan, they all have this tradition of lighting the way for ancestors to come visit.

5:17 Yes, and that brings us to the big philosophy question. Nobody actually knows for sure what happens when we die. It's a huge mystery. But all these traditions are making a massive claim about belonging. What do you mean by a claim about belonging? Well, when someone dies, it feels like they are completely gone from your world.

5:41 But these traditions insist that death doesn't mean you stop being part of the family.

5:46 Oh, it's kind of like if someone moves really, really far away. You can't see them every day, but you still keep their picture on your fridge, right? They're still yours.

5:58 That is a perfect way to put it, Finn. Whether you believe spirits literally come back, or if you just use the time to share memories, it's a way of saying, you still matter, and you still belong here with us. So next time you feel sad about missing someone who passed away, even a beloved pet, here is a thought that might change how you see it.

6:21 What is it? Remembering them isn't just about feeling sad. Remembering them is an action. When you tell a funny story about your great grandfather, or look at a picture of your old dog, you are doing what humans have done for thousands of years. You are keeping them in your story.

6:42 I really like that. It makes remembering feel like a superpower.

6:47 It really is. Now, are you ready for some mind-bending facts? Always. Fact number one. All Saints Day wasn't always in November. A long time ago it was celebrated in May, but in the 8th century, Pope Gregory III moved it to November 1st, which perfectly lined up with the older Celtic season of Sauayne.

7:11 Whoa, so traditions kind of stack on top of each other.

7:15 Exactly. And fact number two, remember those bright marigolds used in Mexico? Scientists know that our sense of smell is the strongest sense tied to memory. So using a strong smelling flower is actually a brilliant psychological trick to bring all your memories of a person rushing back. Alright then, time for the quiz!

7:37 Are you ready?

7:38 Okay, I've got my thinking cap on. Let's do this.

7:42 First question. What does the old word halo mean in All Hallows Eve? Next one. What was the name of the ancient Celtic festival held at the end of October? Question three. During Mexico's Day of the Dead, what bright orange flower is used to guide spirits? Here's number four. In Japan's summer festival of Obon, what do people light to guide their ancestors home?

8:24 Last question. What exact date is the Christian festival of All Saints Day? Great job! Let's see how you did. The first answer is a halo is a holy person or a saint. For question two, the ancient Celtic festival was called Sawen. Number three, the answer is they use marigolds. Question four, during Obon, people light paper lanterns.

8:56 And the final answer is, All Saints Day is on November 1st.

9:00 You know, Mira, I'm never going to look at Halloween the same way again. It's cool to think it's about connection, not just getting candy.

9:08 I totally agree. It is comforting to think about all those invisible ties holding families together, even across time.

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9:42 Thanks for wandering with us today. See you next time on Philosophy is not boring. Bye everyone.