The Spookiest of Holidays
By: Stacey Kindl
If you guessed HALLOWEEN then you are correct!
History
Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain . The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the beginning of the dark, cold winter. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the line between the worlds of the living and the dead became unclear. On the night of October 31 they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the ghosts made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make guesses about the future. These people depended on a changeable natural world and these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.
http://www.history.com/topics/halloween
Halloween in America
During the first celebrations the public had events to celebrate the harvest. The neighbors would share stories of the dead, tell each other's fortunes, dance and sing. Colonial Halloween festivities also featured the telling of ghost stories and trouble-making of all kinds. By the middle of the nineteenth century, yearly autumn festivities were common, but Halloween was not yet celebrated all over.
http://www.history.com/topics/halloween
Trick or Treating
This tradition probably dates back to the early All Souls' Day parades in England. During the festivities, poor citizens would beg for food and families would give them pastries called "soul cakes" in return for their promise to pray for the family's dead relatives. The handing out of soul cakes was encouraged by the church as a way to replace the ancient practice of leaving gifts for roaming spirits. The practice, which was referred to as "going a-souling" was eventually taken up by children who would visit the houses in their neighborhood and be given juice, food, and money.
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Dressing Up
The tradition of dressing in costume for Halloween has both European and Celtic roots. Hundreds of years ago, winter was a scary time. Food supplies often ran low and, for the many people afraid of the dark, the short days of winter were full of fear. On Halloween, when it was believed that ghosts came back to the earthly world, people thought that they would see ghosts if they left their homes. To avoid being seen by these ghosts, people would wear masks when they left their homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits. On Halloween, to keep ghosts away from their houses, people would place bowls of food outside their homes to appease the ghosts and prevent them from attempting to enter.
http://www.history.com/topics/halloween
Halloween is now a holiday celebrated with costumes, candy, and imaginary scares! But do not forget about the important past of the holiday and take time to share what you learned with your parents!