October 31st is Halloween, a holiday steeped in customs and history. Its roots are in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which celebrated the arrival of winter and the end of the harvest season. The Celts, who inhabited what is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France 2,000 years ago, thought that the line dividing the worlds of the living and the dead became hazy on October 31st. They celebrated Samhain on this night because it was thought that the dead had come back to life.
To fend off roving ghosts, people lit bonfires and dressed up for Samhain. To please gods and spirits, the celebration also included a number of rites and sacrifices. Samhain was combined with Roman festivals, such as Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans celebrated the death of the dead when they conquered Celtic lands.
Pope Gregory III declared November 1st to be All Saints’ Day in the eighth century, a day to commemorate all saints and martyrs. All Hallows’ Eve, which evolved into Halloween, was observed the previous evening. Halloween has developed into a neighborhood celebration with kid-friendly traditions like trick-or-treating.
Halloween in the USA
During the 19th century, European immigrants—especially the Irish—brought Halloween to North America. The celebration quickly gained traction and developed into what it is today. Halloween is celebrated in the United States with a range of kid- and adult-friendly activities.
Trick-or-treating is one of the best-liked Halloween customs in the United States. Kids don fancy costumes and visit neighbors door to door, requesting sweets by stating “trick or treat.” The origins of this custom can be found in the medieval “souling” custom, in which impoverished individuals would go door-to-door on Hallowmas (November 1) and exchange food for prayers for the deceased on All Souls’ Day (November 2).
Costume Parties: One of the main traditions of Halloween is the costume party. Individuals of all ages dress up in eerie or humorous costumes. Games, music, and themed decorations are common at these gatherings. Costume competitions are also popular, with prizes given to the most imaginative, frightening, or well-made costumes.
The most popular costumes in 2024:
1.Beetlejuice
2. Deadpool and Wolverine
3.Disney Descendants
4.Wednesday
5.Bridgerton
6.Minions
7. Inside Out 2
8.Wicked
9.Ghostbusters
10.Harley Quinn and Joker
11. Horror Movie Favorites/Billy from Saw
12. Superheroes and Villains.
13. Aliens/xenomorphs, alien: Romulus
14. Anime/Dragon Ball Z and Avatar: The Last Air bender—will be a big hit.
15. Star Wars: Princess Leia, baddie Qimir
16. Classic Halloween Costumes / Super Mario
17.Western-Themed Costumes
18.Witches
19.Disco
20. Angels and Devils
Community Events: Halloween parades, festivals, and other events are held in a lot of towns and cities. These get-togethers frequently feature events like apple bobbing, corn mazes, and hayrides. Additionally, some towns host “trunk-or-treat” activities where kids can exchange candy for candy in a secure setting as they go from car to car.
Horror Movies and Ghost Stories: Two common Halloween traditions are watching horror movies and telling ghost stories to one another. Classic horror films and Halloween-themed episodes of hit television series are among the special Halloween programming available on many television networks and streaming services.
In conclusion, Halloween is a colorful, multidimensional holiday that blends historical customs with contemporary ones in the United States. The holiday has something for everyone, from haunted houses and pumpkin carving to trick-or-treating and costume parties. Communities should unite during this time to celebrate creativity and have a little spooky fun.