Most people know that Halloween is a time to dress up in costumes and go door-to-door asking for trick or treat. But where did this tradition come from? Read on to find out more about the history of Halloween and how it has evolved into what we know and love today.
The Origins of Halloween
Halloween can be traced back to the Celtic festival of Samhain. This festival, which was held on November 1st, marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. The Celts believed that on the night before Samhain, the barrier between our world and the spirit world was at its thinnest, making it easier for ghosts and other supernatural beings to cross over into our world. To ward off these evil spirits, the Celts would light bonfires and dress in costumes made from animal skins.
The Origins of Modern Halloween Celebrations
The tradition of dressing up in costumes and going door-to-door asking for candy has its roots in an ancient Celtic practice known as "guising." Under this tradition, people would go from house to house reciting poems or singing songs in exchange for food. This practice was later adopted by Christian missionaries who used it as a way to spread the gospel to non-believers.
Today, Halloween is celebrated all over the world. In the UK, modern day celebrations generally involve groups of children dressed in scary costumes roaming from house to house while adults often host parties or go out to bars and clubs. Common children’s games such as bobbing for apples in containers full of water, telling ghost stories and carving faces into hollowed-out vegetables such as swedes and turnips are also popular Halloween activities.
So there you have it, a brief history of Halloween. Whether you enjoy dressing up in costumes and going trick-or-treating or simply like to sit back and enjoy a good horror movie, we hope you have a spook-tacular time!
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