Pumpkins, witches and black cats are all Halloween decoration motifs we all so love including in our spaces as the spooky season rolls in. But did you know that there’s a reason why the Halloween symbols became so traditionally Halloween? Before we dive into the origins, myths and legends of your favorite symbols, let’s take a look at the symbolism of Halloween itself.
What Does Halloween Symbolize?
Halloween is the night when it’s believed the boundary between the spiritual and physical world is blurry for just a few hours. This belief is rooted in the Celtic traditions, where Halloween also marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. Back in the ancient days and even through parts of the Medieval period, winter was actually linked to darkness and decay before we started associating it with Christmas cheer. All of this background explains the eeriness and spookiness we strive for during decorating for Halloween!
What are the Iconic Symbols of Halloween?
Just like many other holidays, we can’t imagine a good Halloween tour around town without seeing certain motifs. It has gotten to the point where we associate certain items and animals to Halloween, even when it’s not fall. So, what are the traditional symbols of Halloween?
Jack-o’-Lanterns and Pumpkins
The motif of Jack-o’-lanterns has a root in an Irish myth about Stingy Jack, who tricked the devil and then had to roam the Earth forever as a punishment, only with a carved turnip to light his way. When the Irish brought the tradition of carving turnips and lighting a candle inside to America, people caught on to the fact that carving pumpkins is way easier. This tradition then spread worldwide. Not only do we still carve pumpkins’ faces for Halloween (and love it), but pumpkin décor, spooky or not, has become a Halloween decorating staple. Try taking a walk down your street this Halloween without spotting a pumpkin - and all of that because of a turnip punishment!
Witches
Witches have been the subject of hostility and fear throughout history. Witches are symbols of Halloween because of, the already-mentioned, holiday’s connection to the supernatural. They symbolize magic and resistance. Decorating your home and yard with a witch’s figurine or a statue will add a feeling of mysticism to the space while keeping it elegant or eerie - depending on the style of a witch motif you’re planning to incorporate into your Halloween decoration.
Ghosts
You probably know that ghosts are meant to be spirits of the dead, who have unfinished business and can’t go to the afterlife just yet. That makes them a good symbol for Halloween since October 31st is the night that represents the veil between the living and the dead. When you’re choosing a piece of ghost decoration for Halloween you can choose between a few different styles, two of which are on completely different sides of the ghost spectrum: cute, spooky, and creepy eerie. We recommend going cute and spooky for families with young children to keep it more friendly to their imaginative minds, and creepy, eerie and realistic if… You’re into that. We know you’ll find a ghost decoration that will be exactly what you’re looking for in our shop!
Which animal is the symbol of Halloween?
Black Cats
We love cats! But black cats in particular have always been a symbol of bad luck and misfortune. This started as Christianity spread throughout Europe, and a lot of Pagan symbols were reinterpreted or even demonized. Black cats, sadly, started being viewed as bad luck and associated with witchcraft. In the modern era, black cats slowly became a Halloween symbol, as the holiday is becoming more about celebrating the uncanny and supernatural. In some cultures today black cats are even viewed as a symbol of independence, mystery, and bringers of good fortune. Therefore, if you feel like your home is missing the independence and mystery of a cat, embellish your home with black cat decorations for Halloween.
Of course, if your home is already owned by a black cat, you should ask for their permission first! ;)
Bats
Since bats are nocturnal animals, they’re often associated with caves, darkness, and the night. That’s probably one of the reasons we associate bats with Halloween, but another reason might be that we often find them mysterious and unsettling, since we rarely see bats outside of nighttime. In certain European folklore, bats were even linked to witches and believed to be the omens of death and misfortune. But what probably cemented the association of bats and Halloween was when the idea of a vampire became more and more popular. Even though vampires don’t exist, vampire bats do and they’re not nearly as dangerous as the tales about vampires and Dracula tell us - in fact, they’re nothing to be afraid of! However, these images solidified bats as the symbols of night and macabre.
Halloween symbolizes and celebrates everything unnatural, so it only makes sense that bat silhouettes became a popular motif when we’re decorating our home for the spookiest night of the year.
Spiders
If you are one of the many people who are afraid of spiders, you’ll definitely understand why it’s a common animal symbol of Halloween - a holiday that celebrates everything that gives us the creeps! Spiders are often feared and associated with danger because some of the species are dangerous - even if just a small percentage. We associate them with fear because the idea of getting bitten by a spider has created a widespread and instinctual phobia. Their webs, also often associated with Halloween, can also be linked to the idea of fate and destiny which goes with the common theme of Halloween and the supernatural.
In the context of Halloween, spiders are naturally aligned with themes of mystery and the unknown, so you should definitely incorporate a spider silhouette or an eerie tarantula amongst your Halloween decorations for the season.
In conclusion…
When you’re planning your Halloween decorations for the year, remember to incorporate Halloween symbolism into the space you’ll be designing. Halloween symbols are more than just a piece of décor, each carries a piece of history and meaning that you can connect to and understand on a deeper level - which can also inspire you with your decorations planning. So please, this season try to incorporate a motif which’s symbolism resonates with you, so you’re not only embracing the spooky atmosphere but also connecting with the ancient customs that make Halloween the night full of mystery and magic.
Whether you choose a theme that’s playful or spine-chilling, we hope this blog offers you at least a little bit of guidance. As October 31st is coming closer and closer, don’t forget to fill your home with pumpkins, ghosts, bats and all the other Halloween symbols that make the spookiest night of the year spooky, thrilling and unforgettable. Happy decorating!
