Halloween is a celebration observed in a number of countries on 31 October. It falls on the day before or the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Saints Day.
It is believed that Halloween traditions originated in Britain and Ireland from Celtic harvest festivals which may have pagan roots, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain. The festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture. Samhain was a time used by the ancient pagans to take stock of supplies and prepare for winter. The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead overlapped and the deceased would come back to life and cause havoc such as sickness or damaged crops.
The festival would frequently involve bonfires. It is believed that the fires attracted insects to the area which attracted bats to the area. These are additional attributes of the history of Halloween.
Masks and costumes were worn in an attempt to mimic the evil spirits or appease them.
Trick-or-treating is a customary celebration for children on Halloween. Children go in costume from house to house, asking for treats such as candy or sometimes money, with the question, "Trick or treat?" The word "trick" refers to "threat" to perform mischief on the homeowners or their property if no treat is given. The practice is said to have roots in the medieval practice of mumming Trick-or-treating is a customary celebration for children on Halloween. Children go in costume from house to house, asking for treats such as candy or sometimes money, with the question, "Trick or treat?" The word "trick" refers to "threat" to perform mischief on the homeowners or their property if no treat is given.The practice is said to have roots in the medieval practice of mumming. This was practiced in Germany, Scandinavia and other parts of Europe, which involved masked persons in fancy dress who "paraded the streets and entered houses to dance or play dice in silence.
Nowadays, the children and even adults go from house to house in costumes to ask for candy. It is a time for parties in which people of all ages get dressed in costumes to have fun and maybe even scare someone in a fun manner.
