The History of Scary Halloween Symbols

Although Halloween is a time of simple pleasure, fun, games and trick and treats, there is a whole history of Halloween symbols that have been unexplained for many years. In this articles we take a closer look at bats, black cats, pumpkins and owls and why we use them as common Halloween symbols.

Pumpkins To Serve and Protect

Why do we carve pumpkins on Halloween? Have you ever wondered about that? Jack o’ Lanterns where used to keep away evil spirits and ghosts that came out on Halloween, they originated in Ireland where most people hollowed-out turnips and placed candles in them. We use pumpkins and they are also available in the colors white, green and blue. This way you can use them for scary monster carvings!

Paranormal Animals

Do you have any idea why there are so many Halloween symbols that are animal related? Are there reasons these animals became scary Halloween symbols or are they just the bringers of bad luck? Although a lot of people think that for black cats represent bad luck there are in fact much older reasons. Witches in disguise, that is what people in the middle ages people thought black cats where. And even before the middle ages, black cats where seen as reincarnated spirits that could see into the future. So black cats where animals to avoid under all circumstances and not just with Halloween but during the whole year.

Bats and owls are also Halloween symbols that stand for other animal related myths, they come up in numerous Halloween movies and stories and they are always placed as the representatives of bad luck. In fact bats and owls were often thought to be able to communicate with the dead. That is the most important reason why people feared them.

Costumes and masks have a history on their own

On October 31st, the last day of the Celtic calendar it is Halloween. This was originally a pagan holiday, honoring the dead. The ancient Celts thought that ghosts and spirits roamed the countryside on Halloween night. Halloween was in earlier days referred to as All Hallows Eve and some say it dates back to over 2000 years ago. The Celts began wearing masks and costumes to avoid being recognized as human by the ghost and that is why we still where costumes today.

Halloween Symbols Revealed

There are so many Halloween symbols, we can’t avoid them and when October 31 comes around they are everywhere in stores and as icons on TV. But what are the stories behind these Halloween symbols and myths? Do they all have meanings or are some just socially constructed more than anything else. The stories and images of ghosts, zombies, witches, goblins and monsters are associated with the Halloween holiday but many are in fact just development in horror movies.

The colors black and orange have been used for years and are associated with Halloween but these colors are more about advertisement than anything else. And that goes for more Halloween symbols, they where fabricated by modern society. But that does not mean we can’t enjoy Halloween and make a great party of it.

Kristin King is a real Halloween lover, at here website AheadOfHalloween.com she likes to write about Halloween coloring pages , printable Halloween masks and much more.