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  Illustration by JARRETT QUON/Daily Bruin

By Christian Mignot

Daily Bruin Contributor

As you perfect your Elvis impersonation or stain your shirt with blood for Halloween, you’re probably unaware that you’re participating in a celebration with several hundred years of history behind it.

The predominantly American tradition of trick-or-treating was established only recently in the 20th century. According to Leslie Ellen Jones, who has a Ph.D in folklore, it was promoted in the 1930s as an alternative to the destructive mischief and night pranks. Trick-or-treating became extremely popular with the great postwar demographic shift of populations from the countryside and cities to suburbia.

“The tradition of dressing up has taken on a very American twist,” Jones said. “It’s a very American attitude to take costuming as a very personal statement of identity and non-identity, dressing up as your ‘dark side’ or as a wish fulfillment character.”

The earliest traditions associated with Halloween all relate to the timeframe of the celebration: the beginning of November marks the seasonal change from the months of fertility to winter, a symbol of death.

Joseph Nagy, a professor in the English department who has studied the history of Halloween, said the change in season was the most important factor in the development of traditions that flourished in feudal Europe.

The end of October marked the end of agrarian harvesting, inciting celebrations all across Europe on Nov. 1. In Ireland, the Celtic “Samhain” Feast took place, during which the participants attempted to connect with another world known as “Si”. It was also during early November that excess livestock was killed off, adding to the feeling of death.

“People celebrated before entering into the winter period, which was known for its tough conditions,” Nagy said. “It was during winter that people were closest to death, and therefore the celebration was important for keeping in touch with the dead and celebrating them.”

This period of foreshadowing death prompted the celebration to be connected with evil spirits and forms, said Timothy Tangherlini, associate professor and chair of the Scandinavian department.

The Samhain period became associated with other phenomena, such as divination, as the Celts believed that, at this time of the year, a portal opened which allowed people to look into the future.

From this Celtic tradition, Tangherlini said, came most of the superstition and disguising associated with Halloween.

In contrast to the superstitious nature of the Celtic tradition is the religious origin of Halloween. The celebration occurs on the eve of All Saints Day, also known as All Hallows Day, a Catholic festival established in 731 A.D. by Pope Gregory III, upon which the church commemorates saints who do not have a day honoring their name. This tradition was exported to other parts of the world and was adapted in Latin America as the Day of the Dead.

Nagy and Jones will lead a roundtable tonight titled “Pumpkins and Pigs: The Inner and Outer Fringes of Halloween” in 302 Royce Hall at 7 p.m.