The Four Pillars of Halloween: A Deeper Dive
Folklorist Michael Fortune argues that modern claims regarding the origins of Halloween often rely on simplified narratives that ignore the shared, cross-cultural history of the holiday. In a recent column for RTÉ, Fortune contends that while Ireland significantly influenced the development of Halloween traditions, the holiday was not invented solely by the Irish, but rather emerged from centuries-old, overlapping customs practiced across Scotland, the Isle of Man, Wales, England, and mainland Europe.
Dissecting the ‘Celtic Twilight’ Myth
Fortune identifies the “mumming” or “disguising” element as one of the four core pillars of the traditional Irish Halloween, alongside harvest, the dead, and devilment. He writes that in his native north Wexford, this practice was historically known by various terms, including “Vizzarding Night”—a reference to the “vizzard” or mask worn to conceal one’s identity.
According to Fortune, the purpose of this disguise was not merely to represent the dead, but to facilitate a wider European tradition of house-calling. Participants would visit neighbors to request food, drink, or money, often using improvised costumes—such as pillows or straw to alter their silhouettes—to ensure they remained unrecognizable. Fortune notes that this specific style of house-calling was not universal across Ireland but was primarily localized in Leinster and Ulster, only becoming widespread throughout the country during the 1950s and 1960s.
Unpacking the Origins of ‘Vizzard’
Fortune critiques what he terms the “Celtic Twilight/Samhain Fog Machine,” a contemporary trend that seeks to attribute all Halloween customs to ancient, mystical origins. He asserts that many current traditions are actually complex, layered practices that have evolved over the last few centuries rather than originating in the “mists of time.”
To illustrate the authentic, localized nature of these customs, Fortune documented his family’s experiences in rural County Wexford between 2005 and 2014. These recordings highlight how house-calling functioned as a social contract, where the host’s hospitality was as critical as the performer’s disguise. He recalls a personal tradition involving his late mother, who would visit his grandmother’s home in disguise each Halloween night—a performance that continued for 35 years before her identity was finally revealed to his grandmother in 2014.
A Family Legacy: 35 Years of Disguise
Fortune categorizes the traditional Irish Halloween into four distinctive elements: Food/Harvest, Mumming/Disguise, The Dead/Light, and Tricks/Devilment.
Fortune states that house-calling and dressing up were primarily concentrated in Leinster and Ulster, with only sporadic instances in Munster and Connaught, until the tradition became more widespread in the 1950s and 1960s.
The term is of Middle English and French origin, related to the “visor” found on a helmet. In parts of Wexford, it was commonly used to describe masks and, colloquially, to refer to a person’s face.
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