Hemp, Hallows, and Ghosts: A Spooky History

A Magical Mixture of Myth and Marijuana

It’s Autumn again! The air is crisp, leaves are falling, and an air of spookiness surrounds us. As you prepare your costumes and stock up on treats, let’s journey back in time. Today, we unearth the enchanting blend of hemp, cannabis, and the age-old celebrations that led to our modern Halloween. Grab your broomstick (or vape pen) and fly with us into the mystical annals of history!

Samhain – The Celtic New Year’s Eve

Before candy corn and carved pumpkins took centre stage, the Celts of ancient Europe celebrated Samhain (pronounced SOW-in). Marking the end of the harvest and the onset of winter, this festivity was believed to be a time when the veil between the living and the spirit world was thinnest. Fires were lit, feasts were held, and costumes were donned to ward off or appease the roaming spirits.

Now, where does cannabis come in? Ancient texts and lore suggest that the Druids, the Celtic priests, had a penchant for using various plants and herbs in their rituals. While it’s debated whether cannabis was one of them, the similarities between the euphoria of a THC-induced high and the ethereal sensation of communicating with the spirit world are too fun to ignore. Imagine the scene: A Druid, under a moonlit sky, inhaling deeply from a cannabis concoction, chanting incantations, and feeling ever so closer to the spirits of Samhain!

Witches, Weed, and Whimsy

In medieval Europe, witches took over the Samhain narrative. Witches and their brews are an integral part of Halloween folklore. While flying on broomsticks and brewing bubbling potions, these mystical women were rumoured to have a botanical arsenal at their disposal.
There’s an interesting theory (though a bit risqué!) that these “witches” applied cannabis-infused oils and salves to their, ahem, broom handles, absorbing the substance through their skin and giving an entirely new meaning to “flying high”. While these tales might be a bit exaggerated, they certainly add a layer of intrigue to our favourite spooky celebrations!

Hempen Ghosts, Ghoulish Garments, and Munchie Madness

Hemp, cannabis’s non-intoxicating cousin, also has a haunting history intertwined with Halloween. In the olden days, before the age of synthetic fibres, communities relied on sturdy materials like hemp to craft their daily wear. As All Hallows’ Eve approached, these everyday clothes would undergo a supernatural transformation, repurposed into ghostly garbs and macabre masks. One could almost hear the rustling of a hemp robe in the cool evening breeze, whispering tales from ancient times, as eager children roamed the darkened streets seeking treats or playing tricks.
In a playful twist, just as hemp had its mischievous moments in historical pranks, its intoxicating counterpart, weed, played tricks on the minds of those who partook, leading them to a delightful case of the munchies. It’s easy to imagine a medieval reveller, under the influence of some early cannabis concoction, being irresistibly drawn to the treats of the season. 

Spirited Celebrations with Spooky Greens

These plants have been silent witnesses to centuries of ghostly celebrations, mystical rituals, and fun-filled spookiness. With Evertree’s commitment to sustainability, each puff taken not only honours the ancestors but also looks to the future, as they plant a tree with every product sold. Here’s to the ghosts of cannabis past, adding an extra layer of magic to our Halloween tales! Happy Haunting! 🎃🍁👻