Trick or treat! It’s the most wonderful time of the year for
kids and kids-at-heart! Did you know that the word “Halloween” means “hallowed
evening” or “holy evening”? The holiday that we associate with all things
ghoulish and spooky actually stems from the Celtic festival called “Samhain.”
Samhain was celebrated to mark the end of the harvest season and the beginning
of winter. Spirits and fairies were thought to be particularly active this time
of year and the souls of the dead were said to have the ability to revisit
their homes. People dressed in costumes to ward off those spirits and fairies,
and this later evolved to what we now know as trick-or-treating.
You can thank the Irish and Scottish for bringing this fun
tradition to the United States during the 19th century, and it started
to be widely celebrated at the start of the 20th century. Other ways
people celebrate are with bonfires, bobbing for apples and setting off
fireworks. But, of course, nothing will ever match the fun and excitement of
dressing up in a fun or scary costume and going from door to door, saying
“Trick or treat!”
So what are you doing to prepare for Halloween this year?
Are you decorating your house? Coming up with the perfect costume to win the
costume contest at the office or at school? Are you planning on handing out
tasty treats, or are you thinking you might get more tricks than treats this
year? Share your comments and stories on our Facebook or Twitter pages!
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