Traditionally the end of October and beginning of November is the time of the last harvest when all the late fruiting farm goods are gathered up and butchering is finished. By this time all smoked meats should be ready to lay away in their places, all the last fruits are ripe, and the grain has been sheaved and stored away. For our ancestors it was a time to party, feast, and remember those who couldn't be there for the partying and feasting. It is also the time when gathering is over and hunting, in earnest, begins. The horned God begins to show up to ritual and be celebrated in a sympathetic magic way. Honoring Him brings meat to the tribe/village.
No one really knows why or how this festival of light became associated with more negative energies and beliefs but the supposition is that the focus on honoring the dead and inviting them to a "dumb supper" became corrupted and was given a different meaning by outsiders who misunderstood the symbolism. During the "dumb supper" an extra place setting is placed for the spirits and they are invited to stop by for a meal. The entire super after the initial prayer is silent. The food is left by the back door, outside, for the spirits to finish and the remains are buried the next morning. The drink is poured out as an offering. In recent years the supper has evolved into a merry occasion rather than a solemn one but some folks still hold true to the original ritual.
