Since it is Halloween weekend or Hallowe’en, we thought we would resurrect our All Hallow’s blog with a few updates below. 

Halloween was brought to North America by Irish & Scotch immigrants in the 19th century.   It is an ancient Celtic celebration also known as Samhain (Sowhain) meaning end of Summer.   Many of the customs that we follow on Halloween such as trick or treating, carving jack o’lanterns stem from this tradition. 

Many European cultures believed that at this time of year, the veil between this world and the spirit world thinned,  spirits or fairies to easily travel to this world. 

Traditions like guising, dressing up in costumes, in Ireland, Scotland and Wales were used to protect oneself from these spirits. They also believed that the souls of the dead would revisit their homes and food offerings would be set out in order to protect crops and livestock.

Another tradition, carving the Jack-o’-lanterns, also is derived from Ireland and Scotland. As the people disguised themselves, they would also carve out a hollowed out turnip and put in a candle to use as a lantern as another mode to ward off the evil spirits.  When this tradition made its way across the Atlantic, the North American pumpkin was used instead of turnips as they are softer and easier to carve. 

Throughout Britain and Ireland household festivities and rituals would take place including divination rituals using apples and nuts. The tradition of bobbing for apples developed from this ritual. 

Christians would later adapt these traditions to honor the dead with All Saints Day (November 1) and All Souls Day (November 2) thereby adding a different meaning to Halloween as All Hallows Eve. 

Other cultures including Latin America and Mexico also celebrate similarly with Dia De Los Muertos, Day of the Dead.  More Info.

The RI Latino Arts will  hold  a  celebration of the Día de Los Muertos on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at the North Burial Ground, 4 Main Street Providence 02904. Gathering begins at 5:00 PM.

As part of the celebration a Traveling Puertas Ofrenda will be on display and later on permanent display at  La Galeria del Pueblo in Central Falls.  An ofrenda is a home altar usually created for an individual person who has died and is intended to welcome them to the altar setting.   More Info

 Ghostly Haunts

Of course, one of the more popular haunted legends is the “Conjuring House” is located in Harrisville in the Northwest Corner of the Blackstone Valley.  Did you know you can now “experience the haunting for yourself at the actual house? The Conjuring House offers authentic opportunities for  guests to learn about and experience paranormal phenomena through a variety of events!

Photo courtesy Conjuring House Facebook

There are many tales of the Devil’s visits to Rhode Island, most told to early settlers by the Native Americans.  Did you know that Chepachet is a Native American term for “devil’s bag.”

There is also a missing ghost town located in Smithfield, Hanton City that later became called “Haunted City.”  More Info.

One of the 18th century cellar holes in Hanton City. Photo Courtesy Smithfield Historical Society at Smith Appleby House

If you are interested in reading about some of these spooky legends in Rhode Island, visit Stillwater Books in Pawtucket or the Brown and Hopkins Gift Shop  or your local library for some books by local authors, Thomas D’Agostino and Paul Eno.

Lastly, there have been many great storytellers that have traveled through or lived in Rhode Island that were known to spin a spooky tale including most notably Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft. 

Hocus Pocus

Don’t forget to visit our Hocus Pocus Page for Hocus Pocus II locations related events!

For a list of upcoming Halloween or other Fall events visit our event listings at tourblackstone/events.

Written by: Patti McAlpine. Updated: October 26, 2022