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History of Halloween
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“Trick or treat!!” Many a house owner in America, Britain, Ireland
and Scotland is greeted with this cry. Groups of children dressed in
varied costumes give out this cry and are ‘treated’ to delicious
eats by the residents of the house they are screaming in front of.
The treats are usually readily given and the tricks are generally
never carried out.
All this is a part and parcel of Halloween, a festival that kids
enjoy. A festival during which adults along with children have a lot
of fun, as the festivities involve creating innovative scary
costumes, playing games – some traditional and some new ones, and
tucking in eats handed out readily by one and all. |
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The changed scenario
Halloween has not always been so enjoyable. In 1970s, the trick or
treat facet of Halloween festivities faced a lot of flak as a lot of
vandalism and hooliganism was exhibited in the name of Halloween
tricks. To counter this, rumors of aggrieved house owners’ handing
out poisoned candy did the rounds. This curtailed the trick or treat
activity to a large extent. And now with crime on the increase,
children are discouraged from going out on late evening/night trick
or treat rounds. Organized parties with a lot of fun and games
within known circles have now become the norm. A very popular
Halloween game is children having to pick apples floating in water,
using only their mouths.
The History (Origin)
Halloween takes its name from “All Hallows Eve” a holy or hallowed
evening observed on October 31. What has now become a celebration
and a time for merrymaking and theme parties in the West has its
origins in traditions aimed at honoring and remembering the dead,
which is the reason for Halloween’s central theme being scary
costumes, ghosts, vampires and the like.
In ancient Britain and Ireland, souls of the dead were thought to
revisit their homes on this day and the favorite food, drink and
other items of the departed souls were left around for them. Huge
bonfires were built on hilltops to frighten away evil spirits.
Supernatural powers were placated with many traditional rituals.
This time was considered to be auspicious for matters relating to
marriage, health etc. Many of these customs were carried by
immigrants to the US.
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Jack-o-lantern: the symbol of
Halloween
A common Halloween symbol is the jack-o-lantern, a hollowed out
pumpkin shell carved out to resemble a face. A lighted candle
placed inside the pumpkin completes the scary effect. People in
Scotland use turnips for this purpose, whereas revelers in the
US make use of the more abundantly available pumpkins. This
tradition can be traced back to a character in British folktales
– jack-o-lantern – who was denied a place in heaven after death
and was believed to roam the earth with a lighted candle in his
hand!
The day after Halloween, November 1, is
celebrated as All Saints Day, when departed souls of all saints
known and unknown are remembered. The next day, November 2, is
observed as All Souls Day when people pray for the departed
souls of deceased relatives. |
Jack-o-lantern |
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