| Halloween is one event that has been celebrated by | | | | beginning. |
| our ancestors, their ancestors, and then also their | | | | It was the Christians who later transformed the |
| ancestors as well, maybe with the same pomp glory | | | | Samhain of the pagans into a Christian celebration |
| that we do it today. In fact, the history of Halloween | | | | that we now know as Halloween, followed on the 1st |
| stretches to well about 3000 years. This along with | | | | of November by All Saint's Day. This was a clever |
| many other traditional wisdom associated with | | | | ploy to divert the offerings to pagan gods and make |
| Halloween is what this article is all about. Such facts | | | | it an all-Christian affair, a strategy that did yield |
| will come in handy for you to start a conversation | | | | success. |
| with a party guest that you've been keen to meet | | | | Gradually, several myths and legends came to be |
| with. Or, if its you who is hosting the party, you can | | | | associated with Halloween, many of which can be |
| make booklets adorned with Halloween icons, Gothic | | | | considered to be a hangover of the pagan rituals and |
| fonts or scary photos for your guest that will serve | | | | customs. Thus, the ghost stories around campfire |
| as simple party favors. So, lets explore the long and | | | | that have become very much an integral part of the |
| interesting history that makes up the Halloween of | | | | Halloween tradition. |
| today. | | | | However, though Halloween started off as a festival |
| The first to celebrate Halloween were the Celts | | | | with adults engaged in merry-making, some unruly |
| sometime in 2900 B.C., though it was Samhain that | | | | behavior on part of the adults marred the otherwise |
| the celebration was referred to as back then. | | | | gala celebrations that this event should be all about |
| Samhain used to be celebrated on the occasion of | | | | during the early half of the 20th century. In fact, |
| the new-year on October 21st to mark the end of | | | | things had reached such severe proportions that it |
| their harvest season. Celts also believed that it was | | | | even threatened the very continuity of the event, |
| during Samhain each year that the dead came back | | | | until a few wise men came together and decided to |
| to earth, often in the guise of animals, which added a | | | | keep things going. And to ensure it's clean and safe, |
| touch of eeriness to the harvest season. | | | | it was turned into a kid's only event, with adults |
| The Celts used to be pagans during this time and | | | | keeping away from trick or treating for about half a |
| among the many customs they engaged in Samhain | | | | century since. |
| was to collect and exchange food, which they | | | | However, adults were back in the scene by the |
| believed would please gods and help ward off evil | | | | 1980s though most adults still refrain from doing trick |
| spirits. With this in mind, they would dress in fiery | | | | or treating in view of the chilly reception that they |
| costumes and scary masks. This they thought would | | | | face with. Nevertheless, they do attend adult |
| be enough to scare off evil spirits, in much the same | | | | Halloween parties with the host providing the treats |
| way gargoyles were put to use later on in churches. | | | | and everyone get made up in fancy costumes in |
| Bonfires too were a usual feature, which Celts | | | | much the same way as Celts did centuries ago. |
| believed would prevent evil spirits from gaining | | | | So, how about a Halloween party themed around the |
| ground in their community. This way, costumes, | | | | Celts? That it would bring in some very interesting |
| masks, pumpkins and treats came to be associated | | | | costumes is without doubt! |
| with the history of Halloween right from the | | | | |