By the pricking of my thumb, something wicked this way comes. Ghosts, Ghouls, Pumpkins, and more, let’s discover what the symbols of Halloween are for. 

Ahh, symbolism. If you took ninth-grade English, you probably learned what symbolism was all about and what makes it so important. Symbols help contextualize the meaning of abstract ideas. In the case of Halloween, symbols allow us to visualize what the purpose of the holiday is. 

Ancient Traditions Meet Pop-Culture

Halloween is a celebration that often gets categorized as a children’s holiday because of the costumes, candy, and playful decor. However, the history of Halloween and related Gaelic fire festival of Samhain (pronounced Sowwin) have deeper symbolic significance to the western world.

Gaelic ‘Halloween’ traditions and Samhain were seen as one and the same until some time in the 19th century. October 31-November 1st was considered the outset of the “dark half of the year.”

Halloween is known for the time when the veil is thinnest. To those who believe, it often means that those who have passed on have a better chance of communicating with us.

Throughout the 20th century, images depicting communication with the deceased and the traditional symbols we often associate with this most precious time have become commonplace starting in September (and for some of us, it lasts all year long). 

Halloween has been heavily commercialized since the 1980s when horror films were growing more popular, and there was a demand for everything spooky. With the advent of the internet, Halloween has become even more ingrained into pop-culture. 

Breaking Down Halloween Symbols

Halloween symbols can be placed in the three categories:

• The Season of Harvest– leaves, trees, vegetables, candy-corn, and pumpkins.
• Death and Mortality– skeletons, graveyards, and ghosts. 
• Misfortune and Evil– devils, witches, bats, and monsters. 

With that in mind, we can begin to dissect even more symbols associated with the holiday. 

Keeping Evil Spirits at Bay

The iconic John Carpenter film, Halloween, boasts an introduction of almost three minutes of just staring at a pumpkin. Sure, a Jack O’Lantern is a symbol of Halloween, but what does it mean? Back in the ancient days, the Celts used to carve turnips and keep them outside, lighting the turnips from the inside to keep evil spirits at bay. When the Irish began immigrating to America during the potato famine, they began to use pumpkins as the replacement for the turnip, forever changing Halloween history. When we watch the intro, we notice the pumpkin coming closer to us, a wide shot leading into a zoom, where we should, in theory, be protected from evil (but of course, in this case, it didn’t work).

One of the more unique aspects and symbolism is the concept of “Devil’s Night” or “Mischief Night.”  Practiced throughout the US and Canada, this phenomenon recognizes the more sinister aspects of the holiday. 

The 1994 cult film The Crow takes place in Detroit, MI, and is centered around the events of Devils Night. There is some truth to the plot, as Detroit had a major arson problem on Devil’s Night, well into the 90s. This lasted until volunteers took the streets to patrol and guard, and the event was renamed “Angel’s Night.” The fact remains that like the categorized symbols, the Devil’s Night celebrations revelled in debauchery and mayhem. 

From Debauchery to Fun Cartoons

Six years ago, Over the Garden Wall premiered, and this series relied heavily on the traditional imagery of Halloween we know today. In the episode “Hard Times at the Huskin’ Bee,” our heroes stumble upon what seems to be a traditional village celebration, in which a pumpkin wearing individual tells them, “Say, you folks oughtta don your vegetables and join the harvest with us.”

This episode introduces us to a group of people who wear literal pumpkins as costumes and participate in activities associated with harvest festivals, bobbing for apples, and abundance of wheat, corn, and veggies. What’s important to note is the symbolism of the pumpkin in this episode, literally spirits inhabiting the pumpkins. However, they are spirits of justice, kindness, and generosity. The people of Pottsfield help the boys on their quest, acting as “lights” to guide them on their way. 

Halloween, or Samhain, is so much more than what meets the eye and appreciating the symbolism allows us to celebrate the holiday in a more much respectful and understanding way. Whether you put up pumpkins and a 12-foot tall skeleton, or even a simple harvest wreath, you can take pride in knowing that you are contributing to a centuries-long tradition, celebrating life, death, and community. In times as strange as these isn’t it nice to know that we can take solace in this holiday, and who doesn’t want the chance to feast on candy?