All Hallow’s Eve at Lang Pioneer Village

Where History Meets Halloween

“Hey, want to go to a traditional Halloween party?” Arth asked me as we decided on chocolate for Halloween treats.

“What’s the difference?” I replied, admitting my lack of knowledge about traditional Halloween celebrations.

“Maybe we should find out!” Arth suggested as his curiosity was piqued.

Tired of our usual Halloween routine of hanging out with friends, watching scary movies, and eating pizza, we decided it was time for a change. This year, we wanted to experience something different.

Driven by our curiosity, we found ourselves at the Lang Pioneer Village, where All Hallow’s Eve was being celebrated.

The Lang Pioneer Village opened its historic buildings for the event. Each house had a different theme and activity. Despite our age, we were excited by the eerie and mysterious atmosphere that enveloped the village.

At the entrance, we noticed a small girl dressed as a bee, her yellow and black striped costume buzzing with excitement. As we wandered further, Women in black cloaks and witch’s hats roamed the village, adding to the spooky atmosphere. We also spotted someone draped in a blanket, attempting to pass off as a ghost! We were entertained to witness these creative costumes during Halloween. But have you ever wondered why we dress up like this on Halloween?

Samhain to Halloween

The origins of the macabre Halloween can be traced back to the ancient Gaelic tradition called “Samhain.” This Celtic festival marked the culmination of the harvest season and was observed by the Celts who inhabited England, Ireland, and France over two millennia ago. They partook in a festival named after Samhain, the Lord of the dead, from the moment the sun rose on October 31st until the sun set on November 2nd. It was during this same period that the gates to the underworld swung open.

The spirits of the departed were free to wander the earthly realm and reconnect with their former homes and loved ones. In order to ward themselves off any malevolent spirits, the Celts would disguise themselves as animals and monsters. This practice of “guising” served as a source of entertainment and a means of ensuring safety amidst the presence of the spirits.

In the 7th century, the Catholic Church attempted to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a church-sanctioned holiday that bore similarities. All Saints’ Day was established on November 1st to be a day dedicated to honoring all the saints of the Church. The preceding night, which coincided with the traditional Samhain celebration, came to be known as All-Hallows Eve, eventually evolving into Halloween. And, November 2nd was designated as All Souls’ Day, a time to pay homage to the departed souls.

Spooky Tales

As the centuries passed, Halloween evolved into a holiday that celebrated the supernatural and the mysterious. It became a time for ghost stories, haunted hayrides, and horror movies. People eagerly embraced the thrill of being scared, seeking out haunted attractions, and revelling in the adrenaline rush that comes from facing our deepest fears.

Jack-O-Lantern

Further inside, a crowd gathered outside the Blacksmith shop. As we stepped closer, we realized that the audience was eagerly listening to the tale of Stingy Jack. Glen Caradus and Fiddling Jay amazingly told, sang, and performed in front of entertained children and grownups. Hearing the duo tell spooky stories that gave us Goosebumps was the best part of our visit that night.

One famous Halloween story is that of the Jack-o-lantern.

Jack, a blacksmith, encountered the Devil in a pub. The devil was ready to claim Jack’s soul. But, the blacksmith convinced the devil to transform into a coin to buy one last drink. Instead, Jack put the coin into his pocket next to his silver cross, preventing the Devil from returning to his form. In exchange for the freedom, the poor spirit promised not to claim Jack’s soul for another ten years.

Ten years later, as Jack was walking near an orchard, the Devil returned to collect the man’s soul.

The blacksmith, clever as ever, asked the spirit to fetch him an apple before taking him away. While the Devil climbed the tree, Jack carved a cross into the tree’s bark, trapping the Devil. The poor soul could not come down until he promised Jack that he would never ask for Jack’s soul again.

Later, when Jack eventually died, he was denied entry into heaven due to his sinful life. The Devil, true to his word, refused to claim Jack’s soul and denied him entry into hell as well. Jack was left to wander the Earth. He placed a piece of coal into a carved-out turnip, creating a lantern to light his way.

Witch and Witchcraft

When we walked past the Witches’ Lair, we saw three witches cursing the children while making witch’s swampy brew. To avoid turning into a toad as tricked by the trio, those youngsters must assist their parents with household chores.

Another intriguing figure associated with Halloween is the witches.

The word “witch” originates from the Saxon word “wica,” which means “wise one.” Witches were once respected women who possessed knowledge of healing with herbs and had a deep understanding of the moon and stars. However, during the Middle Ages, when Europe was embroiled in a fierce battle between Christianity and Paganism, witches, since then, were portrayed as agents of evil.

Reviving Forgotten Halloween Traditions

A Twist on Trick or Treat

“A Soul, A Soul, A Soul-Cake! Please good missus, a soul cake,”

In the cozy Fitzpatrick house in Lang Pioneer Village, a sweet lady taught us a special chant to say to get our hands on a delicious soul cake. Soul cake is a small round cookie with the mark of the cross. And just when we thought one wouldn’t satisfy our cravings, the same generous lady handed us the recipe. Now we could whip up these treats whenever we pleased.

On Halloween, we always see the familiar scene of children in their costumes eagerly going from door to door, collecting candy in their treat bags.

But do you know that this dear tradition has its roots in how the British celebrated All Souls’ Day?

Long ago, on All Souls’ Day, children would go around asking for “soul cakes” as a form of payment for the prayers they promised to say for the souls of the departed. It was believed that by offering these cakes, the children were helping the souls find peace in the afterlife. This act of trick or treating was actually a type of mumming, an ancient custom that entertainers would perform in exchange for food or drink.

Fortune telling

As we explored further, we noticed a long line forming in front of Ayotte’s cabin, raising our curiosity. We decided to investigate. It happened that the hut was turned into a fortune teller’s house with a cat, card, and crystal ball, and people were waiting to have their future read. In the past, people would play games to predict their future spouses. These activities, no matter the era, always captivate the younger crowd.

In one such play, you have to venture into the kale fields and pick a random stalk. The shape and taste of the stalks would supposedly reveal the character of the future beloved. Tea-leaves reading is another method. In this game, the patterns of tea leaves left behind in a cup of tea would unveil one’s future. Some people throw two hickory nuts onto an open fire. Then, they interpret the way the nuts move as a sign of what is to come. And of course, there were rituals performed on mirrors, where glimpses into the future could be caught.

As time went on, these fortune-telling games faded into obscurity. These methods were replaced by the more modern Halloween traditions. Perhaps, it’s time to revisit a touch of conventional, mysterious, and enchanted celebrations.

We barely had a chance to explore all the excitement of All Hallow’s Eve, Lang Pioneer Village had to offer. However, as the event comes to an end, it’s time for us to bid farewell and head home. Arth and I looked at each other, knowing that we had made the right choice to seek out a traditional Halloween party. This traditional Halloween party has been everything we hoped for and more. This event has opened our eyes to a whole new world of Halloween traditions. It’s amazing how much we learned about Halloween’s roots and customs.

“We’ll definitely be back next year!”