The Stories behind Halloween

Knock, Knock, Knock..... You open the door and there stands little spiderman, bat man, superman, Harry Potter, iron man or some or other sort of costume, highly excited and all screaming at the top of their voice...."TRICK or TREAT", without knowing the meaning of what they are saying or doing.

It was surprising for me first time when I saw local families who appeared public (shopping malls, transits,schools,hospitals and even in offices!)with traditional Halloween dresses. This is my third experience; still this day gives me lot of excite and fun! In many parts of US this night used to be known as 'Mischief Night', which meant that people were free to go around the town playing harmless mischiefs without fear of being punished.

Where is the Origin?

The history of Halloween can be traced back 2,000 years it seems! This is not an American origin festival. Farmeres in  Europe celebrated the beginning of winter on the evening of October 31st. November 1st was the first day of their new year and it also marked the first day of winter. They believed that death was strongly linked to the long and bitter winter. The other story was related to Christianity. The word, "Halloween," actually has its origins in the Catholic Church. It comes from a contracted corruption of All Hallows (Scary) Evening. November 1, "All Hollows Day" (or "All Saints Day"), is a Catholic day of observance in honor of saints. Ok, don’t want to get in to this story loops. Today most of them who celebrate this only for fun!

Today in United States,this day will be celebrated with lots of attractions like large pumpkins were hollowed out, carved with faces, and placed in windows to get away evil spirits, play trick-or-treating, wearing costumes and attending costume parties, ghost tours, bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted attractions, committing pranks, telling ghost stories or other frightening tales, and watching horror films. For this season in Phoenix there was 'Hunted House' attraction, where guests will be greeted by scary characters that freely roam the Ghost House! And I believe that this type of scary house will be there through out the states. Do not miss your chance. Book your tickets for a guaranteed screaming.

What is the belief behind?

It is interesting to go behind believes of all festivals. Halloween also has interesting tails. On that day, the spirits of all those who had died throughout the last year would come back in search of living bodies to possess for the next year. But we the living bodies don’t wanted to be possessed by those ghosts. So we dressed up in costumes and roam around the streets making loud noises to confuse and frighten the spirits away! Also when dead return to their original homes, if food and shelter were not provided, these evil spirits would angry toward those failing to fulfill their requests and scare them. 

What is “Trick or treat?”

Trick-or-treating is a customary celebration for children on Halloween day. This means "Give me something, or tonight I will curse you." 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 a "threat" to perform mischief on the homeowners or their property if no treat is given. Example of trick- sings a song or tells a ghost story, or start crying! to earn their treats. Our Mexican neighbor in the apartment told, In Mexico  it is called calaverita (Spanish for "little skull") instead of "trick or treat", children ask "me da mi calaverita?" ("Can you give me my little skull?"). The whole this procedure is called "guising" because of the disguises or costumes worn by the children.

Why Pumpkins, Why not potato or honey dew?

Why pumpkins? Why can’t be other vegetables? The answer is simple, carving of pumpkins is very easy and it is one of the vegetable which you can get it cheaply. Many families that celebrate Halloween carve a pumpkin into a frightening or comical face and place it on their doorstep after dark. As we told this is to scare the evil spirits.

In America it's a pumpkin, but in Europe it was often a turnip, large beet, potato, rutabaga or even a skull with a candle in it. The fearsome face of the jack-o-lantern was representative of the god of the dead! Black and orange are the traditional Halloween colors and represent the darkness of night and the color of bonfires, autumn leaves, and jack-o'-lanterns.

So what you are waiting for. Go and have a blast on this evening. Have a scary night ahead with a dozen of ghosts and lots of screams!!