**Halloween**![](media/image1.jpeg){width="1.875in"
height="1.7916666666666667in"}

Halloween, celebrated on the night of October 31^st^, traditionally
includes activities such as trick-or-treating, costume parties, viewing
horror films, visiting \"haunted houses\", and participating in
traditional autumn activities such as hayrides.

**[History]{.underline}**

Halloween originated as a Pagan festival among the Celts of Ireland and
Great Britain. Irish and Scottish immigrants carried versions of the
tradition to North America in the nineteenth century. Other western
countries embraced the holiday in the late twentieth century. Halloween
is now celebrated in parts of the western world, most commonly in
Ireland, the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom and
sometimes in Australia and New Zealand.

The term Halloween (and its older rendering Hallowe\'en) is shortened
from All-hallow-even, as it is the evening of/before \"All Hallows\'
Day\", also known as \"All Saints\' Day\". In Ireland, the name of the
holiday was All Hallows\' Eve (often shortened to Hallow Eve), and
though seldom used today, the name is still well-accepted.

Halloween became a holiday in America in the 19th century, following the
transatlantic migration of nearly two million Irish after the Irish
Potato Famine (1845--1849). Scottish-American and Irish-American
societies held dinners and balls that celebrated their heritages, with
perhaps a recitation of Robert Burns\' poem \"Halloween\" or a telling
of Irish legends. Home parties would center around children\'s
activities, such as bobbing for apples, and divination games often
concerning future romance. Not surprisingly, pranks and mischief were
common as well.

Many European cultural traditions hold that Halloween is one of the
times of the year when spirits can make contact with the physical world,
and when magic is most potent

**[Celebrating Halloween]{.underline}**

The main event for children of modern Halloween in the United States and
Canada is **trick-or-treating,** in which children disguise themselves
in costumes and go door-to-door in their neighborhoods, ringing each
doorbell and yelling \"trick or treat!\" to solicit the usual gift of
candies. Upon receiving trick-or-treaters, the house occupants (who
might also be in costume) often hand out small candies, miniature
chocolate bars, loose change, or soda pop. Children can often accumulate
many treats on Halloween night, filling up entire pillow cases, shopping
bags or large plastic containers.

In many towns and cities, trick-or-treaters are welcomed by lit porch
lights and jack-o\'-lanterns. In some large and/or crime-ridden areas,
however, trick-or-treating is discouraged, or refocused to staged
trick-or-treating events within nearby shopping malls, in order to
prevent potential acts of violence against trick-or-treaters. Even where
crime is not an issue, many American towns have designated specific
hours for trick-or-treating, e.g., 5-7 pm or 5-8 pm, to discourage
late-night trick-or-treating.

Those living in the country may hold Halloween parties, often with
bonfires, with the celebrants passing between them. The parties usually
involve traditional games (like snipe hunting or bobbing for apples),
haunted hayrides (often accompanied by scary stories, and costumed
people hiding in the dark to jump out and scare the riders), and treats
(usually a bag of candy and/or homemade treats). Scary movies may also
be viewed.

For adults, Halloween themed nightlife thrives. Halloween costume
parties provide an opportunity for young adults to gather and local bars
are frequented by people wearing Halloween masks and costumes. Many bars
and restaurants hold Costume Contests to attract customers to their
establishments.

**[Jack-o\'-lanterns]{.underline}**

Jack-o\'-lanterns are often carved into silly or scary faces.The carved
pumpkin, lit by a candle inside, is one of Halloween\'s most prominent
symbols. The jack-o\'-lantern can be traced back to the Irish legend of
Stingy Jack, a greedy, gambling, hard drinking old farmer who tricked
the devil into climbing a tree, and trapped him by carving a cross into
the trunk of the tree. In revenge, the devil placed a curse on Jack
which dooms him to forever wander the earth at night. For centuries, the
bedtime parable was told by Irish parents to their children.

**[Fun Facts:]{.underline}**

-   Halloween has become the United States\' sixth most profitable
    holiday (after Christmas, Mother\'s Day, Valentines Day, Easter, and
    Father\'s Day)

-   Halloween is now America\'s second most popular holiday (after
    Christmas) for decorating.

-   The most popular Halloween costume for adults are, in order: witch,
    pirate, vampire, cat and clown.

-   Black and orange are the traditional colors of Halloween. In modern
    Halloween images and products, purple, green and red are also
    prominent.

-   Anoka, Minnesota, the self-proclaimed \"Halloween Capital of the
    World\", celebrates the holiday with a large civic parade and
    several other city-wide events.

-   Salem, Massachusetts, also has laid claim to the \"Halloween
    Capital\" title, and sees a great deal of tourism surrounding the
    Salem witch trials, especially around Halloween. In the 1990s, the
    city added an official \"Haunted Happenings\" celebration to the
    October tourist season.

-   Boston, Massachusetts holds the record for having the greatest
    number (30,128) of lit jack-o\'-lanterns at once, as of October
    2006.

-   The Rutland, Vermont annual Halloween parade has been featured in a
    number of superhero comic books, including Batman #237, Justice
    League of America #103, Amazing Adventures #16 and The Mighty Thor
    #207.

-   The Village Halloween Parade in New York City is the United States\'
    largest Halloween celebration. Started in 1973, the parade attracts
    over two million spectators and participants, as well as roughly
    four million television viewers annually.