Halloween History

by: ShelbyWright
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Word Count: 600

The tradition of Halloween celebrations return every October 31st. Nowadays those who enjoy the celebrations the most are the children. Halloween is an opportunity to dress up in fancy dress and call on the neighbors trick or treating. Some families go out of their way to decorate their house and front yard in a ghostly and creepie Halloween theme.

Halloween is an ancient Celtic festival, and has lasted down the ages most strongly in the Celtic communities in Ireland, Scotland and Wales. From those countries, with immigration, Halloween has spread around the world, especially to America. In recent times, the spread of popular American culture has generated fresh interest in Halloween to new places, such as Asia and Western Europe.

The first Celtic customs were pagan festivals linked to the seasonal changes with the onset of winter. The ancients saw it as a time when the living could contact the dead, and magic things could happen. The early Christian church, as with many pagan festivals, absorbed these customs into the Christian calendar. All Saints Day, also known as All Hallows Day, was assigned to November 1st. All Hallows Evening, the night of October 31st, became known as Hallow E'en, later just Halloween, and the time for the ancient celebrations.

Halloween was a community festival, often around a warming fire and with lots of fun games. The apple harvest was in full swing, and games such as trying to eat an apple on a string or floating in a barrel of water without using your hands, were popular. Children would go from door to door to gather fruit, nuts and other goodies for the festivities, which was the origin of the "treating" visits of today. In most places, especially in Scotland, the children would sing or put on a performance in return for the treats they collected. Today the treats collected are more likely to be candies and sweets, and sometimes money.

Halloween "tricks" were originally secret and often witty pranks played on some adults by children, with the blame being placed on the mischievous spirits that were said to be abroad on Halloween. This practice was especially popular in Ireland. At some stage long in the past, tricks and treating merged into a choice: give a treat or become the victim of a trick. This unfortunate development led to such practices as throwing eggs at houses and soaping windows, and worse. Today these excesses are rare.

Halloween party venues are often decorated with a haunted house theme. To the pleasure of children, Halloween menu items often include tomato soup described as vampire soup, spaghetti renamed as cemetery worms, and the always popular long cookies tipped with sliced almonds and described as witches' fingers. Pumpkins are made into carved jack-o-lanterns, and the pumpkin flesh used for pumpkin dishes, such as the pumpkin pie that is traditionally a feature of Halloween menus.

For the last few years, the magic and wizards themes of the popular Harry Potter books have added fresh ideas to Halloween fancy dress and decorations for children's Halloween parties.

Halloween dress up parties have also become regular events for adults as well lately. They are a good enough excuse to dress up and have fun. The trend today is for any outfit to be acceptable, not only the traditional witches, monsters, vampires and ghosts of Halloween. Costume design inspirations are now inspired from many places, such as popular movies and television series. Some costumes are just clever, such as the seasonal fall theme of a "leaf blower", made with a leaf hanging from the brim of a cap where it can be blown by the wearer.

About the Author

Moms living the family life at home are often called on to make the costumes and organize the celebrations of Halloween. Here is some Halloween history and practical Halloween ideas to help you make it a fun evening for your children.  

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