| Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic | | | | next year. It was believed to be their only hope |
| festival of Samhain | | | | for the afterlife. The Celts believed all laws of |
| (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 | | | | space and time were suspended during this time, |
| years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the | | | | allowing the spirit world to intermingle with the |
| United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated | | | | living. "Trick or treat" is innocent fun to relish on |
| their new year on November 1. This day marked | | | | the Halloween Day. It comes from thecatholic |
| the end of summer and the harvest and the | | | | tradition of eating and giving soul cakes on |
| beginning of the dark, cold winter. | | | | Halloween. People would walk from village to |
| "Halloween," actually has its origins in | | | | village begging for "soul cakes," made |
| the Catholic Church. It comes from a contracted | | | | outof square pieces of bread with currants. The |
| corruption of | | | | more soul cakes the beggars would receive, the |
| All Hallows Eve. November 1, "All Hollows | | | | more prayers they would promise to say on |
| Day" (or "All Saints | | | | behalf of the dead relatives of the donors. At the |
| Day"), is a Catholic day of observance in | | | | time, it was believed that the dead remained in |
| honor of saints. The holiday was called Samhain | | | | limbo for a time after death, and that prayer, |
| (sow-en), the Celtic New ear. Celts believed that | | | | even by strangers, could expedite a soul's |
| on the night before the new year, the boundary | | | | passage to heaven. The Jack-o-lantern custom |
| between the worlds of the living and the dead | | | | comes from Irish folklore. Wearing costumes |
| became blurred. On the night of October 31, they | | | | comes from the days when Celtic villagers would |
| celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the | | | | dress up in ghoulish costumes and noisily paraded |
| ghosts of the dead returned to earth.Halloween is | | | | around, being as destructive as possible in order |
| celebrated annually on October 31. Just think | | | | to frighten away spirits looking for bodies to |
| about a bunch of frightening fantasies and the | | | | possess. Halloween party supplies like paper plates, |
| scary stories featuring ghosts, witches, monsters, | | | | napkins, and cups are a nice way to complete a |
| and all things that go bump in the night then your | | | | Halloween Party Theme. Halloweendecorations like |
| thinking about one of the finest holidays of the | | | | pumpkin piñatasas a centerpiece, can also |
| year. The disembodied spirits of all those who had | | | | double as party prizes. Party favors like Halloween |
| died throughout the preceding year would come | | | | stickers or glow jewelry fit a Halloween Party |
| back in search of living bodies to possess for the | | | | Theme. |