Halloween Customs: Frightfully Fun

Alone in your home one night, you hear a knock on your door. You are not expecting a visitor. Suddenly, you feel extreme horror. You don't know why but it makes you tremble in fear. You look out the window and see scary creatures wandering in the streets. There are vampires walking, zombies treading, and ghosts drifting outside. You hear the knocks again. As you slowly walk toward the door, you feel that you will regret opening it. However, frightened like mad, you are determined to see who is outside. You open the door to find little children in costumes shouting “trick or treat.” Then it all dawns on you. It's Halloween.

Next to Christmas, Halloween might be the holiday that kids and adults alike most look forward to. It is the season for ghouls, ghosts, and spooky customs. These customs have added color to a supposed scary event. They have made Halloween a fun and exciting event.

Halloween is believed to have originated in the 5th century BC in Celtic Ireland. One story says that the Celts believed that the disembodied souls of those who had perished in the previous year would come back in search of bodies to possess on the eve of All Hallow's Day. It was believed to be their only chance for the afterlife. Ergo, on the night of October 31, people would extinguish fires throughout the neighborhood to become cold and undesirable. They would also wear ghoulish costumes and noisily parade around the village in order to frighten the spirits away. This is when many Halloween customs started.

The Jack-O-Lantern is another popular and essential part of Halloween customs. Again, the Celts are responsible for popularizing this idea. It is said that Jack, a miserable man who was unable to enter heaven or hell, was destined to walk the earth forever. Jack is believed to have placed a piece of coal in a turnip to keep the evil spirits away. Today, pumpkins are carved into lanterns. They are lit and displayed outside the house for the same purpose.

Ireland also witnessed the evolution of trick-or-treat centuries ago. This custom started as a preparation for All Hallow's Eve. Back then, the poor would call upon the rich and request gifts, money, and food. All the food was collected for a feast and celebration.