Happy Halloween
The first evidence of the word Halloween was in the 16th century and it represented a Scottish variant of All-Hallows-Even which was the night before All Hallows Day.
‘Halloween’ and many of the traditions still practiced today such as wearing costumes, trick-or-treating and carving pumpkins all derive from the old the Old English era. The origin of Halloween is commonly linked to the Celtic festival of Samhain, which celebrates the end of the “lighter half” of the year and the beginning of the “darker half” and is sometimes regarded as the Celtic New Year.
The ancient Celts believed that during the period of Samhain (Halloween), the border between this world and the ‘the world of the dead’ becomes thiner, allowing spirits (both harmless and harmful) to pass through. The family’s ancestors were honoured and invited home while harmful spirits were warded off. It is believed that people wore costumes and masks to ward off harmful spirits with the purpose to disguise themselves as a harmful spirit in order to avoid harm.
Trick-or-treating is a customary tradition for children on Halloween, with children going from house to house, asking for treats such as candy or money with the question …… “Trick or treat?”. The word “trick” refers to a threat to perform mischief on the home-owner or their property if no treat is given.
The carving of pumpkins on Halloween is a North American tradition.
Halloween has always been my favorite holiday…possibly because my birthday falls on Halloween !!
Journeys Viaggio 
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