By Jack Robert Stacey | Editor-in-Chief
AsÔÇ»artificially-lit pumpkins,ÔÇ»brightly-coloured┬ácostumes and overfilled bags of sweet treats begin toÔÇ»re-lineÔÇ»shelvesÔÇ»in supermarketsÔÇ»and costume shopsÔÇ»around the UK, itÔÇÖs safe to say thatÔÇ»ÔÇÿHalloweenÔÇÖ has arrived once again.ÔÇ»ÔÇ»┬á
These October-timeÔÇ»festivitiesÔÇ»bear all the hallmarksÔÇ»of an important,ÔÇ»culturally significantÔÇ»event.┬áSimilarly┬áto Christmas and Easter, however,ÔÇ»the meaning behind HalloweenÔÇ»is becoming increasingly ambiguousÔÇ»and,ÔÇ»to many people,ÔÇ»now represents little more than another opportunity to party and over-consume.ÔÇ»ÔÇ»┬á
Even for those who choose not to take part inÔÇ»Halloween celebrations, this period can understandably beÔÇ»aÔÇ»confusingÔÇ»and (in some cases) unsettling time of year.ÔÇ»ÔÇ»┬á
With this in mind, itÔÇÖsÔÇ»nowÔÇ»important forÔÇ»us toÔÇ»remind ourselves of the ÔÇÿtrue meaningÔÇÖ of Halloween and toÔÇ»recognise┬áall the changes that this annual event hasÔÇ»seen throughout history.ÔÇ»ÔÇ»┬á
Although the name ÔÇ£HalloweenÔÇØ was firstÔÇ»popularised┬ábyÔÇ»the Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1785,ÔÇ»most historians often draw onÔÇ»the ancient Gaelic festival ofÔÇ»SamhainÔÇ»when mappingÔÇ»itsÔÇ»early history.ÔÇ»ÔÇ»┬á
This pagan festival was celebratedÔÇ»on the last day of October,ÔÇ»a period when manyÔÇ»peopleÔÇ»believedÔÇ»theÔÇ»barrier between life and deathÔÇ»would weaken.ÔÇ»During this time,ÔÇ»CeltsÔÇ»wouldÔÇ»lightÔÇ»communal firesÔÇ»using the friction created by a large wheelÔÇ»and leave offerings forÔÇ»their ancestors, often alsoÔÇ»disguising themselves as monstersÔÇ»or animalsÔÇ»in order toÔÇ»ward off evil spirts and fairies.ÔÇ»┬á
SamhainÔÇ»is, most obviouslyÔÇ»at least,ÔÇ»is the┬áexplanation┬ábehind theÔÇ»HalloweenÔÇÖsÔÇ»costumed and evenÔÇ»supernaturalÔÇ»roots.ÔÇ»ÔÇ»┬á
Much time later, the Roman Empire would later go on to make┬áconsiderable┬ágains in Celtic territory, essentially absorbingÔÇ»parts ofÔÇ»theÔÇ»CelticÔÇ»cultureÔÇ»(including theÔÇ»SamhainÔÇ»festival)ÔÇ»andÔÇ»combining it with their own to create two distinct festivalsÔÇ»over a period of 400 years.ÔÇ»ÔÇ»┬á
As outlined by History.com,ÔÇ»the firstÔÇ»(Feralia)ÔÇ»was more closely┬áaligned┬áwith the Celtic culture andÔÇ»ÔÇ£traditionally commemorated the passing of the deadÔÇØ,ÔÇ»whilstÔÇ»the second celebrated the Roman goddess of fruitÔÇ»trees and orchardsÔÇ»ÔÇôÔÇ»Leading to theÔÇ»creation of the now iconic Halloween activity of apple bobbing.ÔÇ»ÔÇ»┬á
TheÔÇ»HalloweenÔÇ»(or ÔÇ£All Hallows EveÔÇØ as it was┬áinitially┬áknown) that we would be most familiar with, however,ÔÇ»emergedÔÇ»much laterÔÇ»in colonial America.ÔÇ»Within the southern colonies, whereÔÇ»European settlers and American IndiansÔÇ»wereÔÇ»engaging inÔÇ»earlyÔÇ»cultural exchanges,ÔÇ»HalloweenÔÇ»hadÔÇ»begunÔÇ»toÔÇ»grow inÔÇ»popularity.ÔÇ»Specifically, these October-time festivities coincidedÔÇ»withÔÇ»the harvesting ofÔÇ»crops for the winter and, as such,ÔÇ»quickly became┬áaÔÇ»keyÔÇ»celebrationÔÇ»for rural communitiesÔÇ»whoÔÇ»would come together toÔÇ»celebrateÔÇ»during harvest-time.ÔÇ»ÔÇ»┬á
The mass Irish immigration to the States during the Potato Famine caused Halloween to increase in popularity.┬áWith the arrival of these immigrants across the Atlantic, Halloween┬átraditions┬ábegan to┬ámerge with┬áother┬áexisting Irish legends like the┬átale┬áof ÔÇÿStingy JackÔÇÖ.┬á┬á
In┬áthis traditional tale,┬áan ill-fated deal with the devil leaves one man forced to roam the Earth with only a┬áhollowed out┬áturnip in hand┬áto guide his way.┬áAs many Irish people found it difficult to find turnips┬áin America,┬áhowever,┬áthey instead chose to carve┬ápumpkins┬áin commemoration of the story, leading to the creation of the now iconic┬áimage┬áof the┬ájack-oÔÇÿ-lantern (or will-oÔÇÖ-the-wisps).┬á┬á
By the 1920s, the festival became widely celebrated across the country and later the world. 
WhilstÔÇ»its clear to see thatÔÇ»HalloweenÔÇ»hasÔÇ»undergone a series of key changesÔÇ»and developmentsÔÇ»throughout its long history,ÔÇ»these annualÔÇ»festivitiesÔÇ»areÔÇ»still deeply rooted in a strong sense of community.ÔÇ»ÔÇ»┬á
Most interestingly,ÔÇ»the idea of ÔÇÿHalloweenÔÇÖÔÇ»has continuedÔÇ»(and no doubt will continue)ÔÇ»to grow and evolve. The celebration has takenÔÇ»onÔÇ»aÔÇ»moreÔÇ»complex, but nuancedÔÇ»meaningÔÇ»over timeÔÇ»as different cultural influences haveÔÇ»introduced new elements to the festivitiesÔÇ»ÔÇô Including,ÔÇ»dressing up in costume,ÔÇ»apple bobbing, andÔÇ»the now iconic activity ofÔÇ»pumpkin carving.ÔÇ»┬á
So,ÔÇ»whetherÔÇ»your plans involve an extravagant night out with others in matching costume, or a more small-scale evening in with close friends,ÔÇ»remember that Halloween is first and foremost about celebrating with your local community and ushering in the winter months together, rather than alone.ÔÇ»ÔÇ»
Mae┬áCalan┬áGaeaf┬áyn┬áadeg┬áddiddorol┬áo’r┬áflwyddyn.┬á
Wrth┬ái┬ábwmpenni┬áwedi’u┬ágoleuo’n┬áartiffisial,┬ágwisgoedd┬álliwgar┬áa┬ábagiau┬ásydd┬áwedi┬áeu┬ágor-lenwi┬á├ó┬ádanteithion┬ámelys┬áddechrau┬áail-lenwi┬áein┬ásilffoedd┬ámewn┬áarchfarchnadoedd┬áa┬ásiopau┬ágwisgoedd┬áledled┬áy DU,┬ámae’n┬ásaff┬ái┬áddweud┬ábod ‘Calan┬áGaeaf’┬áwedi┬ácyrraedd┬áunwaith┬áeto.┬á
Mae’r┬ádathliadau┬áhyn┬áym┬ámis Hydref┬áyn┬áddigwyddiadau┬ápwysig,┬ádiwylliannol┬áac┬áarwyddocaol.┬áYn┬áyr┬áun┬ámodd┬á├ó’r┬áNadolig┬áa’r┬áPasg┬ámae’r┬áystyr┬áy┬átu┬á├┤l┬ái┬áGalan┬áGaeaf┬áyn┬ádod┬áyn┬áfwyfwy┬áamwys┬áac,┬ái┬álawer┬áo┬ábobl,┬ánid┬áyw┬ábellach┬áyn┬ácynrychioli┬állawer┬ámwy┬ána┬áchyfle┬áarall┬ái┬ágael┬áparti┬áa┬ágor-yfed.┬á
Hyd┬áyn┬áoed┬ái’r┬árhai┬ásy’n┬ádewis┬ápeidio┬á├ó┬áchymryd┬árhan┬ámewn┬ádathliadau┬áCalan┬áGaeaf, gall y┬ácyfnod┬áhwn,┬áyn┬áddealladwy,┬áfod┬áyn┬ágyfnod┬ádryslyd┬áac (mewn┬árhai┬áachosion)┬áyn┬áannymunol.┬á
Gyda┬áhyn┬ámewn┬ágolwg,┬ámae’n┬ábwysig┬ái┬áni┬áatgoffa┬áein┬áhunain┬áo ‘wir┬áystyr’┬áCalan┬áGaeaf┬áa┬áchydnabod┬áyr┬áholl┬ánewidiadau┬áy┬ámae’r┬ádigwyddiad┬áblynyddol┬áhwn┬áwedi’u┬ágweld┬ádrwy┬ágydol┬áhanes.┬á
Er┬ái’r┬áenw┬á”Calan┬áGaeaf”┬áddod┬áyn┬áboblogaidd┬áyn┬ágyntaf┬ágan┬áy┬ábardd┬áAlbanaidd┬áRobert Burns┬áyn┬á1785,┬ámae’r┬árhan┬áfwyaf┬áo┬áhaneswyr┬áyn┬áaml┬áyn┬ácyfeirio┬áat┬á┼Áyl┬ágaeleg┬áhynafol┬áSamhain┬áwrth┬áfapio┬áei┬áhanes┬ácynnar.┬á
Dathlwyd┬áyr┬á┼Áyl┬ápagan hon┬áar┬áddiwrnod┬áolaf┬ámis Hydref,┬ácyfnod┬ápan┬áoedd┬állawer┬áo┬ábobl┬áyn┬ácredu┬áy┬ábyddai’r┬áff├«n┬árhwng┬ábywyd┬áa┬ámarwolaeth┬áyn┬ágwanhau.Yn┬áystod┬áy┬ácyfnod┬áhwn,┬ábyddai┬áCeltiaid┬áyn┬ácynnau┬átanau┬ácymunedol┬ágan┬áddefnyddio’r┬áffrithiant┬áa┬ágr├½wyd┬ágan┬áolwyn┬áfawr┬áac┬áyn┬ágadael┬ácynigion┬ái’w┬áhynafiaid. Yn┬áaml┬áhefyd┬áy┬ábyddent┬áyn┬ágwisgo┬áfel┬ábwystfilod┬áneu┬áanifeiliaid┬áer┬ámwyn┬áosgoi┬áysbeidiau┬áa┬áffeiriau┬ádrwg.┬á
Samhain┬áfelly┬áyw’r┬áesboniad┬ámwyaf┬áamlwg┬áy┬átu┬á├┤l┬ái┬áwreiddiau┬ágwisgoedd┬ábrawychus┬áCalan┬áGaeaf.┬á
Yn┬áddiweddarach,┬ábyddai’r┬áYmerodraeth┬áRufeinig┬áyn┬ámynd┬áymlaen┬ái┬áennill┬állawer┬áo┬ádir┬áCeltaidd,┬ágan┬áfabwysiadu┬áelfennau┬áo’r┬ádiwylliant┬áCeltaidd┬á(gan┬ágynnwys┬ág┼Áyl┬áSamhain)┬áa’i┬áchyfuno┬á├ó’u┬ágwyliau┬áeu┬áhunain┬ái┬ágreu┬ádwy┬á┼Áyl┬áwahanol┬ádros┬ágyfnod┬áo 400┬ámlynedd.┬á
Fel┬áyr┬áamlinellwyd┬ágan┬áHistory.com,┬ároedd┬áy┬ácyntaf┬á(Feralia)┬áyn┬áagosach┬átuag┬áat┬áddiwylliant┬áCeltaidd┬áac┬áyn┬á”draddodiadol┬áyn┬ácoff├íuÔÇÖr┬ámeirw”,┬átra┬ábod┬áyr┬áail┬áyn┬ádathlu┬áduwiau┬áRhufeinig,┬ácoed,┬áffrwythau┬áa┬ápherllannau┬áÔÇô┬ágan┬áarwain┬áat┬ágreu’r┬áweithgaredd┬áCalan┬áGaeaf┬áeiconig┬áo┬ádwcio┬áafalau┬á(neu apple bobbing.┬á
Fodd bynnag, daeth y term ÔÇÿCalan GaeafÔÇÖ (neu “All Hallows Eve” fel ei gelwir i ddechrau) yn llawer mwy cyffredin yn ddiweddarach ar ├┤l i America gael ei goloneddio.O fewn y trefedigaethau deheuol, lle’r oedd sefydlwyr Ewropeaidd ac Indiaid Americanaidd yn cymryd rhan mewn cyfnewidfeydd diwylliannol cynnar, roedd Calan Gaeaf wedi dechrau tyfu mewn poblogrwydd.Yn benodol, roedd y dathliadau hyn ym mis Hydref yn cyd-daro ├ó chynaeafu cnydau ar gyfer y gaeaf ac, fel y cyfryw, daeth yn ddathliad allweddol i gymunedau gwledig a fyddai’n dod at ei gilydd i ddathlu yn ystod amser cynaeafu.
Achosodd┬áy┬ámewnfudo┬átorfol┬áo┬áIwerddon┬ái’r┬áUnol┬áDaleithiau┬áyn┬áystod┬áy┬ánewyn┬átatws┬á(Potato Famine)┬áCalan┬áGaeaf┬ái┬ágynyddu┬ámewn┬ápoblogrwydd.┬áGyda┬ádyfodiad┬áy┬ámewnfudwyr┬áhyn┬áar┬ádraws┬ám├┤r┬áyr┬áIwerydd,┬ádechreuodd┬átraddodiadau┬áCalan┬áGaeaf┬áuno ├ó┬áchwedlau┬ágwyddelig┬áeraill┬áfel┬áhanes┬á’Stingy Jack’.┬á
Yn┬áy┬ástori┬ádraddodiadol┬áhon,┬ámae┬ábargen┬áwael┬ágyda’r┬ádiafol┬áyn┬ágadael┬áun┬ádyn┬ái┬ágrwydro’r┬áddaear┬ágyda┬ádim┬áond┬ámeipen┬áyn┬áei┬álaw┬ái┬áarwain┬áei┬áffordd.┬áGan┬áfod┬állawer┬áo┬ábobl┬áIwerddon┬áyn┬áei┬áchael┬áhiÔÇÖn┬áanodd┬ádod┬áo┬áhyd┬ái┬áfaip┬á(turnips)┬áyn┬áAmerica┬áfeÔÇÖu┬ádewiswyd┬ái┬ágerfio┬ápwmpenni┬ái┬ágoff├íu’r┬ástori,┬ágan┬áarwain┬áat┬ágreu┬ádelwedd┬áeiconig┬áy┬áÔÇÿjac-o’-lanternÔÇÖ┬á(neu will-o’-the-wisps).┬á
Erbyn┬áyr┬á1920au,┬ácafodd┬áyr┬á┼Áyl┬áei┬áddathlu’n┬áeang┬áledled┬áy┬áwlad┬áac┬áyn┬áddiweddarach┬áledled┬áy┬ábyd.┬á
Er┬áei┬ábod┬áyn┬áglir┬ái┬áweld┬ábod┬áCalan┬áGaeaf┬áwedi┬ácael┬ácyfres┬áo┬ánewidiadau┬áa┬ádatblygiadau┬áallweddol┬ádrwy┬ágydol┬áei┬áhanes┬áhir,┬ámae’r┬ádathliadau┬áblynyddol┬áhyn┬ádal┬áwediÔÇÖu┬ágwreiddio’n┬áddwfn┬ámewn┬áymdeimlad┬ácryf┬áo┬ágymuned.┬á
Yn┬áfwyaf┬ádiddorol,┬ámae’r┬ásyniad┬áo ‘Galan┬áGaeaf’┬áwedi┬áparhau┬á(ac┬ámae’n┬ási┼Ár┬áy┬ábydd┬áyn┬áparhau)┬ái┬ádyfu┬áac┬áesblygu.┬áMae’r┬ádathliad┬áwedi┬ácymryd┬áystyr┬ámwy┬ácymhleth┬ádros┬áamser┬ágan┬áfod┬ádylanwadau┬ádiwylliannol┬ágwahanol┬áwedi┬ácyflwyno┬áelfennau┬ánewydd┬ái’r┬á┼Áyl┬áÔÇô┬ágan┬ágynnwys,┬ágwisgo┬ái┬áfyny┬ámewn┬ágwisgoedd┬ábrawychus,┬átwcio┬áafalau┬áa’r┬áweithgaredd┬áeiconig┬áo┬ágerfio┬ápwmpen┬áerbyn┬áhyn.┬á
Felly,┬áp’un┬áaÔÇÖi┬áyw┬áeich┬ácynlluniau’n┬ácynnwys┬ánoson┬áallan┬ágydag┬áeraill┬ámewn┬ágwisgoedd┬áarswydus, neu┬ánoson┬ámewn┬ágyda┬áffrindiau┬áagos,┬ácofiwch┬áfod┬áCalan┬áGaeaf┬áyn┬áymwneud┬áyn┬ábennaf┬á├ó┬ádathlu┬ágyda’ch┬ácymuned┬áyn┬áystod┬ámisoedd┬áy┬ágaeaf┬áyn┬áhytrach┬ánag┬áar┬áeich┬ápen┬áeich┬áhun.┬á
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