Does Halloween Have an Ancient Greek Origin?

It is fairly common knowledge that the customs involved in Halloween originated with the Ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (despite some modern attempts to show otherwise). This might seem to prove that Halloween has nothing to do with Ancient Greek beliefs and customs. However, could it be that Samhain itself originated from Ancient Greece?

The influence of Ancient Greece in Celtic religion

Scholars have done much research into the connections between the Celts and the Ancient Greeks. There is a lot of evidence that many of their religious beliefs and customs ultimately originated from Greece. For example, there is evidence that some of the main gods of the Celts (such as Belenus) were direct evolutions of Ancient Greek gods, such as Apollo.

Some of the beliefs and myths of the Celts also display clear similarities to those of the Ancient Greeks. Examples include the story of Midas and his donkey ears, as well as the myth of the Isles of the Blessed.

How exactly this influence came to be is up for debate. However, it likely has something to do with the Greek colony of Massalia in southern Gaul in c. 600 BCE. From this point on, the Greeks traded extensively with the Celts. From about 500 BCE, there is evidence of even more extensive Etruscan influence among the Celts, and the Etruscans themselves were heavily influenced by Greek culture and religion.

The Ancient Greek version of Halloween

However it may have happened, there is a distinct possibility that the Celtic festival of Samhain stemmed from Ancient Greek customs. In turn, this would then mean that the roots of Halloween may also be from Ancient Greece.

Indeed, there was an Ancient Greek festival that was quite similar to Halloween and its Celtic predecessor, Samhain. This festival was known as Anthesteria. It was a celebration that occurred in winter, usually towards the end of January or the beginning of February.

Anthesteria was dedicated to the god Dionysus. It lasted for three days. During this time, the Greeks believed that the connection to the Underworld was at its strongest. Spirits of the dead roamed the earth and even entered people’s homes. The festival also involved feasting, dressing up, and decorating one’s house. It many ways, this Ancient Greek festival was just like modern-day Halloween.

The connections between Samhain and Anthesteria

Of course, it would not make sense to argue for a connection between the Ancient Greek festival of Anthesteria and Halloween on the basis of customs that did not exist in Samhain, the direct predecessor of Halloween. Hence, what are some of the specific similarities between Anthesteria and Samhain?

One similarity is that they were not just generic festivals of the dead. Both festivals specifically involved the belief that the boundary between the world of the living and the Underworld was at its weakest at this time. It was for this reason that the spirits would come up and roam the earth.

It was believed that the souls of the dead would visit the homes of their families to receive hospitality. In both festivals, food was prepared for the visitors. In the case of Anthesteria, this happened on the third day.

Additionally, during Samhain, people would smear the threshold of their front door with the blood of a slaughtered animal. Presumably, this was done to protect their household from evil. Similarly, during Anthesteria, people would smear tar on their front door to protect themselves from evil.

Dressing up in costumes

What about dressing up in costumes? Does this famous part of Halloween have a potential origin in Ancient Greek customs through the Celtic Samhain? The practice of dressing up during Samhain is well known. Scholars believe that the purpose of this was both to disguise oneself from the wandering spirits as well as imitate them.

While dressed up, people would go from house to house requesting offerings. Essentially, they were imitating the spirits of the dead, who were believed to visit homes to receive food. This is the origin of the custom of trick-or-treating at Halloween.

Does this Halloween custom have any possible predecessor in the Ancient Greek festival of Anthesteria? Interestingly, the second day of Anthesteria involved dressing up. Some people would dress up in fancy clothing, while others would specifically dress as the companions of the god Dionysus.

Furthermore, while dressed up, these people would then go and visit the houses of various friends. This is clearly similar to the concept of dressing up and going door to door as was common in Samhain.

The date of this Ancient Greek festival and Halloween

One issue that might be brought up with trying to associate Samhain, the predecessor of Halloween, with this Ancient Greek festival is that they did not occur at the same time of year. Samhain occurred on October 31st, whereas Anthesteria occurred around the end of January or beginning of February. However, does that mean that they cannot be connected?

The short answer is no, it does not mean that. It is not unknown for festivals to change date, especially after they are borrowed by a different culture. For example, the Roman predecessor to Christmas, called Saturnalia, was celebrated in the second half of December. Yet, it came directly from Kronia, a Greek festival that was celebrated in the summer.

Additionally, there is evidence that Anthesteria may well have a connection to the traditional date of Halloween. One part of the festival seems to be in honor of Theseus yielding Ariadne to Dionysus after leaving Crete.

With this in mind, it is interesting that there was another festival which also had a connection to Theseus. This was Pyanopsia. The purpose of this festival was to remember Theseus offering a gift to the god Apollo while he was in Crete. This festival occurred on the seventh day of the month Pyanepsion, which would generally correspond to nearly the end of October.

Although just speculation, perhaps the reason that the customs of Anthesteria were moved to October by the Celts is because ofthe  association with this other festival involving Theseus and his offer to the gods.