From Halloween's Roots to Pumpkin Races and Fundraising

Our black and orange "holiday," for kids in costume out trick or treating, used to be a time of reverence of ancestors and fear of evil spirits.

Now witches and goblins, ghosts and ghouls, Superman, Batman and Spiderman, and old favorites such as Snow Whites and ballerinas come trekking down the street, wide-eyed, with bags in hand for candy. And here in Manhattan Beach, they also get their pumpkins ready to roll, and in the spirit of giving, join in the Friendship Walk to benefit their friends with special needs.

T’wasn’t always so. The origins of Halloween seem to be an amalgamation of the early cultures from Britain’s Celts to Mexico’s Aztecs. For all early celebrations, there is a connection to harvests and the end of the growing season, along with the coming of winter and its uncertainties and foreboding darkness.  

It may have begun with the Celtic’s Festival of Samhaim where places were set at the table for deceased relatives. These superstitious people are said to have worn masks to hide from evil spirits, precursor to costumes, and set out food to appease the ghosts.

Ancient Gauls were said to wear costumes to placate evil spirits, while black cats were believed to actually be witches hiding from detection.

The Day of the Dead or Dia de Los Muertos is a day in Mexico where deceased relatives are honored, a custom dating from the Aztecs.

Trick or treating is said to have originated when the poor of medieval England who begged for food were given soul cakes on All Souls Day in return for their promise to pray for the donor’s dead relatives. Later the English and Irish brought the traditions of costumes and trick or treating to America.

In 1835, Pope Gregory moved All Souls Day from May to October. All Hollows, later known as Halloween, is the Eve of All Souls Day, followed by All Saints Day, a three-day event in the Church, October 31, November 1 and 2. The tradition of skulls and skeletons made of sugar reflected both death and re-birth.

Jack O’lanterns  were made in Europe from turnips and squash. Later in America pumpkins were more plentiful and larger for carving. The head, being the most powerful part of the body, holds the spirit and frightens off evil spirits.

Like everything in America, more and bigger is better. Just look at our stores, floor to ceiling plastic renditions of everything traditional. After Christmas, Halloween is the largest commercial "holiday." Six billion dollars are spent, with $2 billion on candy. Little children will tell you Halloween is their favorite "holiday."

In Manhattan Beach, Carl Rogers began the Pumpkin Race 21 years ago as a simple neighborhood event on his block. Over the years, the downtown business associations initiated safe trick or treating along Manhattan Avenue.

Since then, the City of Manhattan Beach, Skechers and generous sponsors and service organizations have created a downtown Manhattan Beach celebration known far and wide as a unique and enviable joyful community event, typically held the weekend before Halloween.

This year, the Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk began at 8 a.m. Sunday, followed by the World Famous Pumpkin Race from 12 to 6:30 p.m.  

As of late yesterday, Walk officials reported that they had more than 7,200 participants and raised $520,000, with more donations yet to be counted and still coming in.