Happy Halloweeen! Also known as All Hallows’ Eve, is a yearly celebration observed in a number of countries on October 31, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows’ Day.
Are you planning to do something tonight? We are going to explain you some things you may don’t know about Halloween’s origins and, of course, some things you know very well!
Origins
Some people believe that Halloween originated from the ancient Celtic harvest festival known as Samhain, which was the eve of the Celtic New Year. People paid tribute to Samhain, the lord of death, to honor the dying year and souls who were no longer among the living. It was believed that the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead was the thinnest on this night.
Other ones believe that Halloween has its origins in pagan festivals held around the end of October in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. People believed that, at this time of year, the spirits of dead people could come ‘alive’ and walk among the ‘real world’. They thought that it was important to dress up in costumes when being outside, to avoid being harmed by the spirits. This may be the origin of the Halloween costumes seen today.
- Halloween
Activities
Typical festive Halloween activities include the famous trick-or-treating, when some children dress up and go to other peoples’ houses, knocking on the door for treat of sweets or a snack. Those who do not give out a treat may be tricked with a joke instead.
Attending to costume parties, carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, telling scary stories or watching horror films is what people do this days.
- Trick or treaters
Costumes
Halloween costumes are traditionally modeled after supernatural figures such as vampires, monsters, ghosts, skeletons, witches and devils. Symbols include animals, such as black cats, bats and spiders.
These symbols are used to decorate homes and party venues and are seen on costumes, gift paper, cards, cookies, cakes and candy. So, if you want to have your own haunted house you may use all this symbols to scare your guests! And if you do it, please tell us what happened! Have a nice weekend!
- Haunted House in USA
