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Halloween
Traces of Halloween can be found in the ancient Celtic
ritual known as Samhain
(sow-in). Held on November 1st, Samhain marked the end of the
harvest season and the onset of the cold, bleak winter. The night
before, October 31st, the boundary between the living world and the
afterworld was opened and the dead mingled freely among the
living. These spirits were powerful and wise. It was
in the 19th century when children began playing pranks and people began
to fear these "ghosts" as evil.
In the 800's, Pope Boniface IV created All-hallows from the Middle
English, Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day to be celebrated on
November 1st in an attempt to end Samhain. However, the eve of
Samhain became known as All Hallows Eve and eventually Halloween.
In the late 1800's, there was a strong effort to change Halloween from
a scary, superstitious night to a family and community holiday.
Families held parities for children and scary decorations were
abandoned.
The tradition of carving out pumpkins started in Ireland.
Originally large turnips, rutabagas, and potatoes were used. Legend
tells of an ornery man named Jack, he was a mean man and when he died
Heaven turned him away, but so did Purgatory because Jack had played
terrible tricks on the devil during his life. It was dark and
Jack couldn't find his way so the devil tossed him a burning coal which
he promptly put inside a turnip. He was doomed to walk the earth
looking for a place to go. He became known as "Jack of the
Lantern," or "Jack-o'-lantern." To scare away Jack and other
spirits, jack-o'-lanterns are placed outside the front door on the one
day where spirits roam the land--Halloween. When immigrants came
to the United States they started the tradition of using pumpkins.
 The
idea of trick-or-treating originated in England when the poor would beg
for food on All Souls' Day. Beggars would receive special treats
in exchange for prayers for the dead. In time, children began
"begging" for treats on Mischief Night. To avoid tricks, treats
were and still are given to children.
Today, it is popular to have Halloween parties in which guests dress in
costumes and eat strangely garnished food. Children go door to
door dressed in costumes and receive candy or trinkets. Many
people put out decorations and jack-o-lanterns and watch scary
movies. There are also many places that host Haunted Houses, even
the local sheriffs' stations. More and more shopping malls and
local shops are hosting safe Halloween trick-or-treating events for
children.
by W.Holidays
modified: May 3, 2008
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