By Ajay Anand
Halloween is observed on October 31.
Halloween is short form of All Hallow’s Eve.
The festival marks the day before the Western Christian feast of All Saints and beginning of the season of Allhallowtide.
The festival lasts three days and ends with All Soul’s Day.
In most parts of Europe and North America, Halloween is largely a non-religious festival.
The festival marks the day before the Western Christian feast of All Saints and beginning of the season of Allhallowtide.
The festival lasts three days and ends with All Soul’s Day.
In most parts of Europe and North America, Halloween is largely a non-religious festival.
It has origins in the festival of Samhain among the Celts of ancient Britain and Ireland.
The day marked the end of harvest season and beginning of winter.
On this day, the dead were believed to return to their homes.
Those who died in the same year were believed to journey to the otherworld.
People set bonfires on hilltops to frighten away evil spirits.
In the 7th century CE, it was a religious festival.
When Irish immigrants started to go to the United States in the mid 19th century, they carried Halloween with them.
Halloween became a major US holiday in the 20th century.
People wear fancy costumes on this day.
Costumes are usually based on horror, ghost, witches, Satan, etc.
Children go from house to house shouting trick-or-treat.
This practice came from the British tradition of poor begging for ‘soul cakes’.
Trick-or-treaters threat to pull a trick if they do not get a treat (usually candy).
Bobbing for apples is a popular game during Halloween parties.
Apples are put in a container full of water.
One has to take out the apple by using his/her teeth.
Hollowed out pumpkin is carved to make jack-o-lantern.
The original practice was to carve a turnip into demonic face.
It was lit with a candle inside.