Halloween: A Spooky Fiesta
Halloween is pretty much the only holiday where one can resurface their crazy side and pass the blame on the same. It is a patchwork holiday, stitched with religious, cultural, and co-traditions that expand centuries. This festival is often becoming popular over the years by the practice of dressing up in different costumes. Individuals dress up as ghosts, witches, or other scary things for Halloween. It is often referred to as ‘the scariest time of the year’. Wearing a costume may come from the Celtic festivals of Samhain and Calan Gaeaf. It could also be from the Christian Allhallowtide.
Usually, Halloween is celebrated on 31 October but in some traditional places, it is carried forward till November 2. The word ‘Hallow-een’ refers to ‘Saints evening’. It is driven from a Scottish term- All Hallows’ Eve(the evening before All Hallows’ Day).
But, do you know? apart from wearing costumes, there’s a deeper meaning to this festival.
Let’s dive into the origins of Halloween straight away
History
The Celts who lived 2000 years ago, stayed in the area that is now Ireland, United Kingdom, Northern France celebrated the new year on 1st November. The Celtics thought that the veil between the worlds of the dead and the worlds of the living thinned on the night before the new year. Every year on the night of 31 October they celebrated Samhain (pronounced as sow-in). It was believed that the ghost of the dead return to the earth. One of the main reasons why Celts built bonfires and dressed up in avant-garde clothes to ward off spirits.
Later when the Christians to what now are Ireland, Wales, and Scotland, they bought with them their tradition. The introduction of Christianity got mixed up with the Celtic tradition of Samhain, followed by Latin America when the Christian missionaries came to those countries.
It was one of the ways Christians tried to transmogrify the new people into Christian. They attempt to amalgamate these other holidays, pagan holidays into Christian traditions. Christians celebrated All Saints Day on November 1, honoring people who had gone to heaven. All Saints Day can also be referred to as All Hallow Day, implying the meaning of Hallow being Holy.
Underpinning the eve of 1st November being All Hallow Day surfaced the name of tradition as Halloweens Day.
In hindsight, All-hallows’ Eve evolved into Halloween, becoming more popular in secular culture than All Saints’ Day.
Costumes
Now costumes play a prominent role when it comes to Halloween. Early costumes were usually scary. They were often supernatural beings or from folklore. In the 1930s people got inspired by characters of literature, movies, radio, etcetera and started dressing up like them.
The festival indulged more in amusement than to be vogue. The fear-inducing that takes place on 31st October. It is a spooky festival rather known as spooky season. Children and adults seek this chance and flip the norms of polite society and indulge in their primitive self. Halloween is one of few festivals which let everyone brings the freak side of their out. The host often makes arrangements for the haunted house with animatronic props.
It’s up to you that whether you want to steer towards the timeless ritual of Halloween by the trick and treating people or just want to chill and party around. When it comes to party people yield themselves in the most prodigious arrangements. Halloween has something for all ages.
Feast
If we join the conventional thread of Halloween to its food, we notice it includes everything from caramel apples to pumpkin pies. Here’s a list of some classic mouth-watering Halloween foodstuff
- Candy and caramel apples
- Pumpkin pie
- Apple bread
- Caramel corn
- Candy corn
- Pumpkin bread
Despite the swing of seasonal apples, people have introduced many more spooky eatables. For instance- ghostly pizza, monster wraps, bone breadsticks, bread coffin, and many more.
The time we live in such a technologically advanced world, the internet is flooded with videos such as food recipes. Just with one click, you can enter a whole new world of ideas and innovation of such bizarre yet tasty food.
Also Read: Food That Deserve Our Love In Winter
Games
Halloween without games is like watching a movie without popcorn. You’ll get through the whole movie but feels like something is missing out.
Little kids filled with adrenaline have so much energy to burn. They are so full of energy that sometimes it becomes difficult for adults to match them.
As you don’t intend to kill the fun, you can engage them in fun activities. For instance; Paint Pumpkins, Sort Candies, Halloween I spy game, Candy Jenga, Glow-In-The-Dark ring toss, Pin the Spider on the Web, Halloween Charades, Halloween Cakewalk, and so many exhilarating games.
While you play these games, don’t forget to blast your favorite Halloween playlist and eating your favorite candies.
Also Read: 10 Best Board Games for When You are Bored
Greetings
Halloween casts its spell over people of all ages. But some of them beat the clock and prepare everything beforehand, while some don’t want to walk down this cliff. So, here’s a solution instead of treating with candies treat people with some fun greetings.
-Park your broom and sit for a spell
-May your candy supply last you well for Christmas season
-Best witches for a haunting All Hallows Eve
-Trick or treat, smell my feet, Hope your Halloween, Is a spooky sweet!
-Wishing you a spooky good October and a fang-tastic Halloween
Some of them are really witty and fun. Halloween can’t be always about being materialistic. Instead, sometimes a polite or witty greeting can be enough to leave a mark.
Around the World
This festival is still widely celebrated today and in numerous countries across the globe. In countries such as Ireland, Canada, and the United States, still rooted traditions include costume parties, trick-or-treating, pranks, and games are included. People give Halloween their own slight regional flavor in other places. In Mexico and other Latin American countries, Día de Los Muertos—the Day of the Dead—in which honors deceased loved ones and ancestors. In England, Guy Fawkes Day, which falls on November 5, is commemorated with bonfires and fireworks
All Souls’ Day, which happens on November 2, is observed throughout Mexico, Latin America, and Spain with a three-day ceremony that begins on the evening of October 31. The holiday is meant to commemorate the deceased, who are said to return to their earthly homes on Halloween. To honor deceased loved ones, many families create an altar to the dead in their homes, which is ornamented with candies, flowers, photographs, samples of the deceased’s favorite meals and drinks, and freshwater. A washbasin and towel are frequently set out so that the spirits can wash before feasting.
Also Read: Culture Tradition From Around The World
Halloween is a fun festival to spend time with family, friends, and loved ones. Many families just stay in and watch scary movies, while many sneak out to clubs. So, make time to give your best self and make the most out of it.
