Zombies and Zodiacs - The Astrological History of Halloween

,When we think about Halloween these days, we tend to think of lighthearted spooky stuff: costumes and trick-or-treating, zombies, ghouls, and ghosts. Truth is, Halloween has a rich history based on the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain and the date on the zodiac. Here's a history of Halloween sure to change up the way you celebrate this day from now on.

The Significance of Scorpio Season

Halloween takes place during Scorpio Season — how fitting! The dark side of the Scorpio sign (every sign has one!) feeds off the energy of dark corners, death, and fear. Scorpio Season's a perfect match, in other words, for this spooky holiday.

It's also a time of transformation and rebirth, no matter your own sign. Scorpio or not, it's the ideal time for you to get an astrology reading.

Halloween and Astrology

So how does the horoscope fit into Halloween's history? In terms of astrology, a date isn't a fixed day but a degree of the zodiac. Halloween, or All Hallows' Eve, falls on Oct. 31. That's the evening before All Hallows' Day (or All Saints' or Hallowmas) on Nov. 1. The degree of the zodiac is between 8-degree and 10-degree Scorpio.

The Samhain Celebration Connection

Samhain (you pronounce that "so-wuhn") started on the eve of Oct. 31. Ancient folks calculated their days from evening to evening instead of using midnight like we do.

The Celtic festival of Samhain marked the end of harvest season, signifying the start of the year's darker half (there are those Scorpio themes again!). Celebrants held the super-spooky belief that spirits and fairies could more easily enter our world on Samhain and that souls of the departed could visit homes again, too.

The Role of the Pleiades

Samhain took place at an astrological pivot point: the Pleiades star cluster's acronychal rising. In other words, the Pleiades rise as the sun sets at this time.

Fun fact: The Pleiades were actually a cosmic trigger for all of the ancient world. Since the prehistoric era, this rising of the Pleiades marked a time for prayers for the dead.

Honoring the Ancestors

The Halloween date traditionally marked a time to honor ancestors. That's something we can still do today as we use Scorpio's reign to think about the cycle of life and death. Embrace your own spooky side and get into the, ahem, spirit of the season. Take some inspiration for honoring departed loved ones by thinking back to ancient festivals. Try:

• Divination, since the veil between the living realm and the afterlife is particularly thin right now.
• Having feasts to honor lost loved ones.
• Lighting candles.
• Making wreaths.

So, it turns out Halloween's about a lot more than zombie movies and stocking up on candy! The ancient history of Halloween as Samhain heralding the end to harvest season plays into traditions for Oct. 31 even today. PathForward can help you learn more about your own horoscope as you dive deeper into Halloween's astrological significance. You can use this season to honor lost loved ones — just as folks have been doing since back in ancient times.