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Halloween 2020: Significance, fun facts, pumpkin carving, trick-or-treat

Halloween is an ancient Celtic festival celebrated on the last day of harvest in European countries and America.

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Halloween is just around the corner and will be celebrated in Europe and America on Saturday (October 31). Halloween is an ancient Celtic festival celebrated on the last day of harvest in European countries and America. Over the years, Halloween is celebrated worldwide and has become very popular in urban India.

On this day, people dress in their scariest costumes which are believed to be inspired by folk customs and beliefs. Halloween or Hallowe’en is also known as Allhalloween which means All Hallow’s Eve. 

Do you know the significance and fun facts related to Halloween?

Halloween is an ancient Celtic festival celebrated on the last day of harvest in European countries and America. The history of this spooky festival goes back more than 2,000 years. The day is also known as All Saints’ Eve in some countries. Halloween is mostly celebrated by Western Christians and non-Christians where saints, martyrs, and faithful departed believers are remembered. They honor saints and pray for souls who have not yet reached heaven yet. The word ‘Halloween’ means ‘hallowed evening’ or ‘holy evening’ and is also referred to as ‘All Saints Day’. 

Halloween activities:

Halloween activities on this day include trick-or-treating, attending Halloween costume parties, carving pumpkins, playing pranks, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary stories, and watching horror films. 'Trick or treat' is said to have been derived from ancient Irish and Scottish practices. According to history.com, in Ireland, people would put on costumes and go from door-to-door and singing songs to the dead. They received cakes as payment.

Pumpkin Carving:

It is believed that pumpkin carving on Halloween came into being as immigrants to North America started to use pumpkin than the traditional turnip as it was softer and larger. Carving of pumpkin during Halloween came into practice as both harvest and the day fell during the same time in the year. Over the years, people started lighting pumpkins thus becoming essential on Halloween. People also decorate their houses with scarecrows and corn husks.

Halloween fun facts:

People would light bonfires and wear unconventional costumes to ward off ghosts. 

For countries in the northern latitudes, the day marked the end of summer and the beginning of cold, dark winter when deaths and disease were common.

These days, Halloween doesn’t have the spookiness attached to it. It is more about children getting into spooky costumes and asking for 'trick or treat'.

The 'treat' is mostly some form of candy or chocolate that is given to children and 'trick' refers to a threat - usually an idle one - if something nice is not given.

 

 

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