Halloween Symbols: What They Mean & Origins (p2)

 

Thank you for coming back to our blog, in this post, we will continue to uncover the fascinating symbolism that makes Halloween the mesmerizing celebration it is today!

16. Zombies

The concept of zombies originates from Haitian and West African traditions, but it’s easy to see why they became linked to Halloween. With the boundary between the living and the dead believed to be thinnest on Halloween, the idea of reanimated bodies walking the earth fits perfectly with the holiday's eerie theme.

17. Monsters (Like Frankenstein, Dracula)

Monsters perfectly align with Halloween, as they embody everything spooky and scary. Many, like Frankenstein and Dracula, originate from literature, while others stem from centuries-old folklore.

18. Candles

Candles' connection to Halloween dates back to the Celtic festival of Samhain, where they were lit to guide the spirits of loved ones home. Nowadays, candles are a staple in horror films, often flickering just as the lights go out and something spooky is about to unfold!

19. Skeletons

Skeletons, like skulls, are tied to Halloween through its ancient roots in Samhain, when spirits were believed to walk the earth for one night. Their eerie appearance—the grinning skull and clacking bones—adds to the spooky vibe of Halloween. Beyond symbolizing death and the macabre, skeletons also remind us to cherish the memory of our departed loved ones.

20. Vampire Fangs

 

When Dracula became a Halloween icon (still one of the most popular costumes), his vampiric fangs followed suit. While sharp teeth have long held symbolism, as seen with Hindu deities, Dracula’s association with Halloween made insertable fangs a staple accessory for costumes.

21. Pumpkins

Pumpkins have been a Halloween symbol since the colonial era, thanks to Celtic immigrants. In the celebration of Samhain, Scots and Irish carved faces into turnips to ward off unwanted spirits on All Hallows’ Eve. Upon arriving in the U.S., they switched to pumpkins, which were larger and easier to carve.

22. Ravens or Crows

Birds have long symbolized either doom or luck, with ravens and crows often linked to the darker side. It wasn’t until Edgar Allan Poe’s poem The Raven during the Victorian era that these black birds became tied to Halloween. Described as “ghastly grim,” the raven represents madness and the supernatural, making it a perfect fit for the spooky holiday.

23. Mummies

Mummies, most famously from Egypt, have existed for thousands of years, but their tie to Halloween likely began with Bram Stoker’s The Jewel of the Seven Stars, which featured a supernatural mummy. The Halloween tradition of the dead joining the living also makes it easy to imagine a mummy rising and causing havoc, especially on All Hallows’ Eve.

 

24. Werewolves

The myth of men transforming into wolves under a full moon dates back to ancient Greece and Rome. However, the link between werewolves and Halloween is a more recent creation, largely influenced by 20th-century Hollywood. Lon Chaney's Wolf Man popularized werewolves, and their terrifying, bloodthirsty nature made them a perfect fit for Halloween.

25. Bonfires

Bonfires are a Halloween tradition rooted in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. To mark the end of the harvest, the Celts lit large bonfires to guide spirits as they sought to reunite with their families before moving on to the afterlife.

26. Candy Apples

Apples have been tied to fall traditions for centuries, starting with the Roman festival of Pomona, named after the Latin word for apple. This festival blended into later harvest celebrations like Samhain, which influenced Halloween. Candy apples didn’t become a Halloween staple until the early 20th century, when a candymaker added a candy coating, sparking their popularity.

27. Ghouls

Ghouls differ from ghosts as they are physical creatures with a hunger for human flesh. In Arabic tradition, ghouls would lure victims away to devour them. As Halloween gained popularity, these chilling stories naturally became part of the holiday, inspiring spooky costumes and tales told around a fire.

28. Fog

Fog is eerie any time, but especially on a cool October night! Its association with Halloween comes from its prominent role in Gothic literature, like Dracula, where it encircles terror and the supernatural. Nearly every scary movie has used dense fog to reveal creepy figures, making it a Halloween staple.

29. Cobwebs

Cobwebs, older and dustier than spiderwebs, evoke the passage of time, suggesting something long dead or forgotten. Their eerie presence in attics, basements, or haunted houses makes them an ideal symbol of Halloween’s spooky, abandoned atmosphere.

30. Potions

Potions are linked to Halloween through witches and their cauldrons. In the Medieval and Early Modern periods, cauldrons were common household items, so it was believed witches used them to brew potions—ranging from deadly poisons to spells that gave them the power of flight (usually on a broomstick).

To be continued