Asst. Ent Editor 19

While traveling door-to-door draped in costumes, few trick-or-treaters likely think of the Halloween tradition as a link to Roman and Greek rituals practiced thousands of years ago.

I don’t think people really think of it, but Halloween’s a way to help confront the reality of death, said Debbie Felton, an assistant professor in Greek and Latin classics. Now, the way it is celebrated takes the edge off.

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Links between the Roman and Greek rituals and the celebrations carried out today are explained in Haunted Greece and Rome, a book written by Felton that will be released next year.

By analyzing Roman and Greek ghost stories from 3,000 years ago, Felton said ancient customs similar to trick-or-treating and telling ghost stories can be seen.

I’ve always been interested in the Greeks and Romans, and their ghost stories were like modern ghost stories, Felton said. And they were the same type of ghost stories told 2,000 to 3,000 years ago.

Some ancient ghost stories include those about haunted houses, disappearing ghosts and tales of restored spirits.

For fear of ancestors returning to haunt them, the Greeks and Romans honored the dead by having festivals similar to how Halloween is celebrated by some people.

During spring harvest in May, Greeks would participate in Anthesteria, a setting out of food baskets for their ancestors to retrieve without harming them. Mixed grains, porridge and wines filled the baskets.

Similar festivals called Lemuria and Parentalia took place in Rome every February and September.

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Felton said she is unsure if trick-or-treating began with the Greeks and Romans, but there is a definite similarity.

The ritual was to appease the ghosts that would return to the household, she said. They (Greeks and Romans) all would pretty much stay home and give out food.

I’m not sure how the modern trick-or-treating began, but the same idea is there. (Now) giving out candy is to appease the goblins (children).

Brian Buckman, a senior in radio and television from Des Plaines, said that when he went trick-or-treating, it was something fun to do, and Greek and Roman traditions never crossed his mind.

After hearing about the traditions, Buckman said people dressing up as ghosts and goblins take away from the original purpose of Halloween.

The whole idea of Halloween is something that is recognized, but has kind of been cheated as it has transformed into a happy holiday, Buckman said. It’s a valid celebration of life’s death cycle. But what better opportunity to get free candy?

Shawn O’Bryhim, an associate professor of the classics, said food and drink offerings made by Greeks and Romans in ancient times were important to the lives they led.

Being superstitious of dead spirits including monsters, witches and ghosts was natural for them, he said.

He said Felton’s book will be popular because it captures the ancient customs of Greeks and Romans.

Her book fills an important gap that hasn’t gained much attention from modern scholars, O’Bryhim said. She shines light on a neglected part of their everyday lives.

Felton’s research on the spooky topics is something she has been interested in since she was a child. Felton was raised in a family of ghost-story tellers, and that gave her a good basic understanding of the yarns.

I was around people who liked ghost stories, and my dad would give me a book of ghost stories, Felton said. I’ve been interested in them for a long time. It was interesting to see some of the original reasoning.

Researching ghosts is different from actually believing in them, and Felton is uncertain whether or not she does.

I’m skeptical because I’ve never seen one, Felton said. Nowadays, people don’t believe in ghosts, and I don’t know anyone who says they’ve seen one. I would have to see a ghost.