Misplaced Pages

Halloween: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 19:31, 21 September 2007 view sourceClueBot (talk | contribs)1,596,818 edits Reverting possible vandalism by Special:Contributions/204.184.92.1. If this is a mistake, report it. Thanks, ClueBot. (Bot)← Previous edit Revision as of 19:33, 21 September 2007 view source 204.184.92.1 (talk) Replaced page with 'Halloween RULES!'Next edit →
Line 1: Line 1:
Halloween RULES!
{{Otheruses1|the holiday}}
{{refimprove|date=August 2007}}
{{Cleanup|date=June 2007}}
{{wiktionary|Halloween}}
{{Infobox Holiday |
| holiday_name = Halloween<br/>Hallowe'en | image = Jack-o'-Lantern_2003-10-31.jpg
| caption = A ]
| nickname = All Hallows Eve<br> All Saints' Eve<br> ]
| observedby = Many English-speaking nations, including ], ], ], ], ], ], sometimes ] and ]{{Verify source|date=July 2007}}
| date = ]
| celebrations = ], ], ], Carving ]s, ]s and ] (in ])
| longtype = Religious, Cultural (celebrated mostly irrespective of religion)
| type=Pagan
| significance = There are many sources of Halloween's significance
}}

'''Hallowe'en''', or '''Halloween''', is a holiday celebrated on the night of ]. Traditional activities include ], ], viewing ], visiting ], and participating in traditional ] activities such as ]s (which may have ]).

Halloween originated under the name of '']'' as a ] festival among the ] of ] and ]. Irish and Scottish immigrants carried versions of the tradition to North America in the nineteenth century. Other western countries have embraced the holiday as a part of American ] in the late twentieth century.

Halloween is now celebrated in parts of the ], most commonly in ], the ], ], ], the ] and sometimes in ] and ]. In recent years, the holiday has also been celebrated in parts of Western Europe.

The term ''Halloween'' (and its older rendering ''Hallowe'en'') is shortened from '''All-hallow-even'''<!-- Note to editors: That is "even", not "eve". Both are abbreviations of "evening", but "Halloween" gets its "n" from "even". -->, as it is the evening of/before ]<ref name = "OED">{{cite book | first = John | last = Simpson | coauthors = Weiner, Edmund | title = Oxford English Dictionary | edition = second | year = 1989 | publisher = Oxford University Press | location = London|id = ISBN 0-19-861186-2}}</ref>, also known as "]' Day". It was a day of religious festivities in various northern ]an Pagan traditions{{Fact|date=March 2007}}, until Popes ] and ] moved the old Christian feast of All Saints' Day from ] to ]. In the ninth century, the Church measured the day as starting at sunset, in accordance with the ]. Although we now consider All Saints' (or Hallows') Day to occur one day after Halloween, the two holidays were, at that time, celebrated on the same day. Liturgically, the Church traditionally celebrated that day as the Vigil of All Saints, and, until 1970, a day of fasting as well. Like other vigils, it was celebrated on the previous day if it fell on a Sunday, although secular celebrations of the holiday remained on the 31st. The Vigil was suppressed in 1955, but was later restored in the post-Vatican II calendar.

In ], 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, albeit somewhat esoteric. In ], the festival is known as ''Oíche Shamhna'' (Night of '']''), or simply ''Samhain''; in ] it is ''Samhainn'' or ''Samhain''; in Welsh, '']'' to the Welsh; "]" to the ] and "]" to the ]. Halloween is also called ''Pooky Night'' in parts of Ireland, presumably named after the ], a mischievous ].

Many European cultural traditions hold that Halloween is one of the ] times of the year when ]s can make contact with the physical world, and when ] is most potent (according to, for example, ] and Irish tales of the ]).

==Around the world==
] portrays a Halloween party in ], Ireland, in 1832. The young people on the left side play various ] games, while children on the right bob for apples. A couple in the center play "Snap-Apple", which involves retrieving an apple hanging from a string]].

===Ireland===
Halloween is very popular in Ireland, where it is said to have originated, and is known in ] as "Oíche Shamhna" or "Samhain Night". Pre-Christian Celts had an autumn festival, (] {{IPA|/ˈsˠaunʲ/from the ] ''samain''}}), "End of Summer", a pastoral and agricultural "fire festival" or feast, when the dead revisited the mortal world, and large communal bonfires would hence be lit to ward off evil spirits. (See ] below).
] standardized the date of All Saints' Day, or All Hallows' Day, on ] in the name of the entire Western Church in 835. As it now began at sunset, the holiday coincided exactly with Samhain. Although there is no official documentation that Gregory considered Samhain when selecting this date, it seems consistent with the common practice of leaving pagan festivals and buildings intact (e.g., the ]), while overlaying a Christian meaning.<ref name = "BBC_spec">{{cite web | title = BBC Religion & Ethics - Hallowe'en | url

= http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/halloween.shtml | publisher = BBC | accessdate = 2007-03-14}}</ref> While ]s might have been content to move All Saints' Day from the previous date of ], ("...the ''Fe-lire'' of Oengus and the ''Martyrology of Tallaght'' prove that the early medieval churches celebrated the feast of All Saints upon 20 April.")<ref name = "Hutton">{{cite book | last = Hutton | first = Ronald | authorlink = Ronald Hutton | title = Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain | year = 1996 | publisher = Oxford Paperbacks | location = New York | id = ISBN 0-19-285448-8}}</ref> they were unwilling to give up their pre-existing April festival of the dead and continued to celebrate ''Samhain''{{Fact|date=March 2007}}.

Unfortunately, there is frustratingly little ] of how Halloween was celebrated in preindustrial Ireland. Historian Nicholas Rogers has written,
<blockquote>It is not always easy to track the development of Halloween in Ireland and Scotland from the mid-seventeenth century, largely because one has to trace ritual practices from folkloric evidence that do not necessarily reflect how the holiday might have changed; these rituals may not be "authentic" or "timeless" examples of pre-industrial times.<ref name = "Rogers">{{cite book | first = Nicholas | last = Rogers | title = Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night | location = New York | publisher = Oxford University Press | year = 2002 | pages = 411 | id = ISBN 0-19-514691-3 }}</ref></blockquote>
On Halloween night in present-day Ireland, adults and children dress up as creatures from the underworld (e.g., ghosts, ghouls, zombies, witches and goblins), light bonfires, and enjoy spectacular fireworks displays (despite the fact that such displays are usually illegal). The children knock on the neighbors' doors, in order to gather fruit, nuts, and sweets for the Halloween festival. Salt was once sprinkled in the hair of the children to protect against evil spirits.

The houses are frequently adorned with ] or ] carved into scary faces; lights or candles are sometimes placed inside the carvings to provide an eerie effect. The traditional Halloween cake in Ireland is the ], which is a fruit bread. Each family member gets one slice. There is a piece of rag, a coin ''or'' a ring in each cake; if one gets the rag, then financial prospects are doubtful. Getting a coin indicates a prosperous future, and getting a ring is a sure sign of impending romance or continued happiness. Nowadays, only the ring is usually included in commercially produced barmbracks.

Games are often played, such as bobbing for apples, where apples, peanuts and other nuts and fruit and some small coins are placed in a basin of water. The apples and nuts float, but the coins, which sink, are harder to catch. Everyone takes turns catching as many items possible using only their mouths. In some households, the coins are embedded in the fruit for the children to "earn" as they catch each apple. The Scottish and English have adapted the tradition to a game named "ducking", in which a participant quickly dunks in a water-filled container in an attempt to get a prize, without being submerged too long. Another common game involves the hands-free eating of an apple hung on a string attached to the ceiling.

Irish children have a week-long Halloween break from school; the last Monday in October is a ] given for Halloween even though they often do not fall on the same day. See ].

As of 2006, several County and City Councils around Ireland have imposed bans on bonfires, citing apparent health and safety issues.

===Scotland===
], having a shared Gaelic culture and language with ], has celebrated the festival of Samhain robustly for centuries. ] portrayed the varied customs in his poem "Hallowe'en" (1785).

Halloween, known in ] as "Oidhche Shamhna", consists chiefly of children going door to door "guising", i.e., dressed in a disguise (often as a witch or ghost) and offering entertainment of various sorts. If the entertainment is enjoyed, the children are rewarded with gifts of sweets, fruits or money. There is no Scottish 'trick or treat' tradition; on the contrary, 'trick or treat' may have its origins in the guising customs.

In Scotland a lot of folklore, including that of Halloween, revolves around the belief in ]. Children dress up in costumes and carry around a ''"Neepy Candle"'' a devil face carved into a hollowed out ], lit from inside, to frighten away the evil faeries.

Popular children's games played on the holiday include "dookin" for apples (i.e., retrieving an apple from a bucket of water using only one's mouth). In places, the game has been replaced (because of fears of contracting saliva-borne illnesses in the water) by standing over the bowl holding a fork in one's mouth, and releasing it in an attempt to skewer an apple using only gravity. Another popular game is attempting to eat, while blindfolded, a treacle-coated scone on a piece of string hanging from the ceiling.

===Isle of Man===
The ] traditionally celebrate ] on October 31. This ancient Celtic tradition has parallels with Scottish and Irish traditions.

===England and Wales===

The ] of the ] and ] AD pushed the native ]s north and westward in ], to present-day ], ], ] and ], taking the festival of All Hallows Eve with them. All Saints Day (All Hallows Day) became fixed on ], 835, and All Souls Day on ], circa 998. On All Souls Eve, families stayed up late, and little "soul cakes" were eaten by everyone. At the stroke of midnight there was solemn silence among households, which had candles burning in every room to guide the souls back to visit their earthly homes, and a glass of wine on the table to refresh them. The tradition continued in areas of northern England as late as the 1930s, with children going from door-to-door "souling" (i.e., singing songs) for cakes or money. The ] in the ] de-emphasised holidays like All Hallows Day and its associated eve. With the rise of ] celebrations in ] England, many Halloween practices, especially the building of bonfires, were moved to ].

Halloween celebrations in the UK were repopularised in the 1980s with influence from America, and saw the reintroduction of traditions such as pumpkin carvings and trick-or-treat.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Between 2001 and 2006, consumer spending in the UK for Halloween rose tenfold from £12m to £120m, according to Bryan Roberts from industry analysts Planet Retail, making Halloween the third most profitable holiday for supermarkets.<ref>{{cite news | first = Claire | last = Heald | title = Boo! Is Halloween too scary? | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6099008.stm | publisher = BBC News Magazine|date = ] | accessdate = 2006-12-28}}</ref>
Nowadays, adults often dress up to attend ] parties, pub parties and club parties on Halloween night.

In parts of ], there is a similar festival called ] which falls on the ]. During the celebration, children play a range of "tricks" (ranging from minor to more serious) on adults. One of the more serious "tricks" might include the unhinging of garden gates (which were often thrown into ponds, or moved far away). In recent years, such acts have occasionally escalated to extreme vandalism, sometimes involving street fires.<ref>{{cite news | title = Mischief Night causes havoc across county | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/northyorkshire/news/2002/11/05/fire.shtml | publisher = BBC|date = ] | accessdate = 2006-09-14}}</ref>

Throughout England (and much of the British Isles), children carve faces or designs into hollowed-out pumpkins.<ref>{{cite news | title = Pumpkin passions | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4385812.stm | publisher = BBC | date = ]|accessdate = 2006-09-27}}</ref> Usually illuminated from within, the lanterns are displayed in windows in keeping with the night's theme of fright and horror. (See article ].) Before the introduction of pumpkin carving from the United States, it was common to carve large swedes (a.k.a. neeps or yellow turnips), which is still done in some areas.

Bobbing for apples is a well-established Halloween custom, synonymous with the Scottish "dukin". In the game, apples were placed in a water-filled barrel, and a participant would attempt to catch an apple with one's mouth only. Once an apple was caught, it would be peeled and tossed over the shoulder in the hope that the strips would fall into the shape of a letter, which would supposedly be the first initial of the participant's true love. According to another superstition, the longer the peel, the longer the peeler's life would be; some say that the first participant to get an apple would be the first to marry.

Other Halloween festivities include fireworks, telling ], and playing children's games such as ]. Apple tarts might be baked with a coin hidden inside, and nuts of all types are traditional Halloween fare. Bolder children may play a game called "thunder and lightning", which involves loudly knocking on a neighbor's door, then running away (like lightning). This game is known as "knock-door-run", "knock-and-run", "knock-knock-zoom-zoom", "ding-dong-ditch", or "postman's knock" in parts of the country, and is also played on ]{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Tradition has been changing, as the majority of today's children will arrive at a door and intone "trick-or-treat" in order to receive money and sweets.

There has been increasing concern about the potential for antisocial behavior, particularly among older teens, on Halloween. Cases of houses being "egg-bombed" (especially when the occupants do not give money or gifts) have been reported, and the ] reports that for Halloween 2006 police forces have stepped up patrols to respond to such mischief.<ref>{{cite news | title = Fines for Halloween troublemakers | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6093634.stm | publisher = BBC News|date = ] | accessdate = 2006-12-28}}</ref>

===United States and Canada===
Halloween did not become a holiday in America until the 19th century, where lingering ] tradition restricted even the observance ] prior to the 1800s. American almanacs of the late 18th and early 19th centuries do not include Halloween in their lists of holidays.<ref>Rogers, p. 49.</ref> The transatlantic migration of nearly two million Irish following the ] finally brought the holiday to America. Scottish emigration from the ], primarily to Canada before 1870 and to the United States thereafter, brought the Scottish version of the holiday to each country.

] and ] societies held dinners and balls that celebrated their heritages, with perhaps a recitation of ]' poem "Halloween" or a telling of Irish legends, much as ] celebrations were more about ] heritage than Columbus per se. Home parties would center around children's activities, such as ], and various ] games often concerning future romance. Not surprisingly, pranks and mischief were common as well.

The commercialization of Halloween in America did not start until the 20th century, beginning perhaps with Halloween postcards (featuring hundreds of designs) which were most popular between 1905 and 1915.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.shaktiweb.com/postcards/ | title = Antique Halloween Postcards and E-cards | accessdate = 2006-09-14 | last = Anderson | first = Richard | year = 2000 | format = HTML | publisher = shaktiweb.com}}</ref> Dennison Manufacturing Company, which published its first Hallowe'en catalog in 1909, and the Beistle Company were pioneers in commercially made Halloween decorations, particularly die-cut paper items.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.spookshows.com/beistle/beistle.htm | title = Beistle: An American Halloween Giant | accessdate = 2006-09-14 | author = Dawn Kroma | coauthors = Lou Kroma | date = n.d. | format = HTML | work = | publisher = Spookshows.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.halloweencollector.com/history/ | title = A Brief History of Halloween Collectibles | accessdate = 2006-09-14 | last = Ledenbach | first = Mark B. | date = n.d. | format = HTML | publisher = halloweencollector.com}}</ref> German manufacturers specialised in Halloween figurines that were exported to America in the period between the two world wars.

]
There is little ] of masking or costuming on Halloween in America or elsewhere, prior to 1900.<ref name = "Skal">{{cite book | first = David J. | last = Skal | title = Makes a Holiday: A Cultural History of Halloween | location = New York | publisher = Bloomsbury | year = 2002 | pages = 34 | id = ISBN 1-58234-230-X }}</ref> Mass-produced Halloween costumes did not appear in stores until the 1930s, and trick-or-treating did not become a fixture of the holiday until the 1950s.

In the United States, Halloween has become the sixth most profitable holiday (after Christmas, Mother's Day, Valentines Day, Easter, and Father's Day).<ref name = "Mikkelson">{{cite news | first = Barbara and David P. | last = Mikkelson | author = | coauthors = | title = Halloween Loot. | url = http://www.snopes.com/holidays/halloween/spending.asp | format = | work = | publisher = | date = ]|accessdate = 2006-10-29}}</ref> In the 1990s, many manufacturers began producing a larger variety of Halloween yard decorations; prior to this a majority of decorations were homemade. Some of the most popular yard decorations are ]s, ]s, witches, orange and purple string lights, inflatable decorations (such as spiders, pumpkins, mummies and vampires), and ] window and door decorations. Other popular decorations are foam ] and ]s. Halloween is now America's second most popular holiday (after Christmas) for decorating; the sale of candy and costumes are also extremely common during the holiday, which is marketed to children and adults alike. According to the National Retail Federation, the most popular Halloween costume themes for adults are, in order: witch, pirate, vampire, cat and clown.<ref>2006 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey. Washington, DC: The National Retail Federation.</ref> On many college campuses, Halloween is a major celebration, with the Friday and Saturday nearest ] hosting many costume parties.

Universal's ] is one of the largest and most elaborate Halloween events in the world. The month-long event takes place at Universal Studios theme parks in Florida and Hollywood.

The National Confectioners Association reported, in 2005, that 80 percent of American adults planned to give out candy to trick-or-treaters,<ref name = "candyusa.org1">{{cite web | url = http://www.candyusa.org/Media/Seasonal/Halloween/pr_2005.asp | title = Trick-or-treaters can expect Mom or Dad’s favorites in their bags this year | accessdate = 2006-09-14 | year = 2005 | publisher = National Confectioners Association}}</ref> and that 93 percent of children planned to go trick-or-treating.<ref name=candyusa.org2>{{cite web|url= http://www.candyusa.org/Classroom/Facts/default.asp?Fact=Halloween|title= Fun Facts: Halloween|accessdate= 2006-09-14|year= 2005|publisher= National Confectioners Association}}</ref>
], the self-proclaimed "Halloween Capital of the World", celebrates the holiday with a large civic ] and several other city-wide events. ], also has laid claim to the "Halloween Capital" title, while trying to dissociate itself from its history of persecuting ]. At the same time, however, the city does see a great deal of tourism surrounding the ], especially around Halloween. In the 1990s, the city added an official "Haunted Happenings" celebration to the October tourist season.. Nearby ], hosts the annual ] each October which previously held the record for having the greatest number of lit ]s at once. (] holds the record as of October 2006).

] has hosted the annual ] since 1960. Tom Fagan, a local ] fan, is credited with having a hand in the parade's early development and ] theme. In the early 1970s, the Rutland Halloween Parade achieved a degree of fame when it was used as the setting of a number of ] ], including Batman #237, Justice League of America #103, Amazing Adventures #16 and The Mighty Thor #207.
] in ].]]
] hosts the United States' largest Halloween celebration, known as The ]. Started by ] mask maker ] in 1973, the evening parade now attracts over two million spectators and participants, as well as roughly four million television viewers annually. It is the largest participatory parade in the country if not the world, encouraging spectators to march in the parade as well.

In many towns and cities, trick-or-treaters are welcomed by lit ] lights and jack-o'-lanterns. In some large and/or crimeridden areas, however, trick-or-treating is discouraged, or refocused to staged trick-or-treating events within nearby ]s, 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 ] may hold Halloween parties, often with bonfires, with the celebrants passing between them. The parties usually involve traditional games (like ]ing, bobbing for apples, or searching for candy in a similar manner to Easter egg hunting), ]s (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. Normally, the children are picked up by their parents at predetermined times. However, it is not uncommon for such parties to include sleepovers.

Trick-or-treating may often end by early evening, but the nightlife thrives in many urban areas. Halloween costume parties provide an opportunity for young adults to gather and share a keg, while having a good time. The local bars are frequented by people wearing Halloween masks and risqué costumes. Many bars and restaurants hold Costume Contests to attract customers to their establishments.

In areas with a large ] population, Halloween has often merged with celebrations of "Dia De Los Muertos" ("]").

===Mexico===
In ], Halloween has been celebrated during the last 40 years where the celebrations have been influenced by the American traditions, such as the costuming of children who visit the houses of their neighborhood in search of candy. Though the "trick-or-treat" motif is used, tricks are not generally played on residents not providing candy. Older crowds of preteens, teenagers and adults will sometimes organize Halloween-themed parties, which might be scheduled on the nearest available weekend.

Halloween in ] begins three days of consecutive holidays, as it is followed by All Saint's Day and then the ] or the "]". (This might account for initial explanations for the holiday having a traditional Mexican-Catholic slant).

===Australia and New Zealand===

In the ], spring is in full swing by October 31, and the days are rapidly growing longer and brighter. This does not mesh well with the traditional ]ic spirit of Halloween, which relies on an atmosphere of the encroaching darkness of winter. <br>However, Halloween has recently gained a large amount of recognition in Australia and to an extent New Zealand, largely due to American media influences. In 2006, costume shops reported a rise in sales on
Halloween-themed costumes, on October 31, 2006. On Halloween night, horror films and horror-themed TV episodes are traditionally aired.

A visitor from overseas expecting to enjoy an Australian or New Zealand Halloween will need to prepare in advance, since most events are private parties. ] are usually supervised by adults and remain in their own neighborhoods for safety reasons, a practice often prearranged with neighbors. "Tricks" are not played in Australia, and "treats" of wrapped/sealed lollies (for safety and hygiene purposes) are generally given only by known neighbors and friends; strangers providing treats may be greeted with suspicion or hostility among parents, and discouragement among Australian law enforcement.

If trick-or-treaters venture beyond these culturally accepted norms, it is mainly in the form of antisocial behaviors by small groups to cause havoc, similar to that which occurs on Halloween in the United States, and, more recently, the United Kingdom. Destructive acts have little to do with the community spirit of Halloween, and perhaps reflect unpleasant societal realities such as unemployment, boredom or lack of social responsibility. Antisocial behavior associated with Halloween have fomented hostility among some Australians, who see "trick-or-treating" as the mindless imitation of American customs, and a tool of an American cultural ] conveyed by popular media. Their aversion to Halloween reflects a wider refusal to accept "senseless or commercial Americanisms."<ref>http://members.ozemail.com.au/~natinfo@ozemail.com.au/american.htm</ref>

Vandalism on Halloween has been known to target school and community buildings, cemeteries and places of worship. Such actions have routinely led to charges of petty (often juvenile) crimes.

] all gather together on Halloween day.]]

===Caribbean===
Halloween is largely uncelebrated in the ]. However, like Australia and New Zealand, the event is not unheard of in the Caribbean and is seeing some increase in popularity.

In some parts of the ], there are celebrations commemorating ] that occur around the time of Halloween. The celebrations include using firecrackers, blowing ] and similar activities.

On the island of ], the children of a town typically gather to trick-or-treat for sweets among the town shops (instead of people's homes, as in other countries).

===Malta===
Halloween had never been celebrated in ] until recently, with its popularity increasing thanks to the many costume parties, usually for teenagers and young adults, being organized on Halloween night. Trick-or-treating is not widely known in Malta.{{Facts|date=February 2007}}

===People's Republic of China===
{{Expand-section|date=March 2007}}
There is no Halloween in Chinese tradition, but there is a similar Chinese holiday that is much more solemnly spiritual than Halloween, see ].

===Other regions===
In other regions, Halloween has become popular in the context of American pop culture. Some Catholics and Protestants do not appreciate the resultant deemphasis of the more spiritual aspects of ] Eve and ], respectively, or of regional festivals occurring around the same time (such as ]). Business has a natural tendency to capitalize on the holiday season's more commercial aspects, such as the sale of decorations and costumes.

==Symbols==
]

The carved ], lit by a candle inside, is one of Halloween's most prominent symbols. This is an Irish tradition of carving a lantern which goes back centuries. These lanterns are usually carved from a ] or ] (or more uncommonly a ]). The carving of ]s was first associated with Halloween in North America,<ref>Skal, David J. (2002). Death Makes a Holiday: A Cultural History of Halloween. New York: Bloomsbury, 34. ISBN 1-58234-230-X.</ref> where the ] was available, and much larger and easier to carve. Many families that celebrate Halloween carve a pumpkin into a frightening or comical face and place it on their home's doorstep after dark.

The ] can be traced back to the Irish legend of , 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. At Halloween time, the children carved out turnips, placing a candle inside to symbolize Jack's curse.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}<!-- A pre-20th century source is needed for this claim. --> But in America the tradition of carving pumpkins is known to have preceded the ] period of Irish immigration,<ref>For example, the American poet ], born in 1807, recalled carving pumpkins in his youth.</ref> and the tradition of carving vegetable lanterns may also have been brought over by the Scottish or English; documentation is unavailable to establish when or by whom. The carved pumpkin was associated generally with harvest time in America, and did not become specifically associated with Halloween until the mid to late 19th century.

The imagery surrounding Halloween is largely an amalgamation of the Halloween season itself, nearly a century of work from American ]s and ]s, and a rather commercialized take on the dark and mysterious. Halloween imagery tends to involve death, magic, or mythical ]s. Common Halloween characters include, skeletons, ]s, ]s, ], ]s, ]s, ]s, ]s, ]s, ]s, pumpkinmen, ]s,], ]s, ]s, ]s, mummies, ]s, ] and ]s. Particularly in America, symbolism is inspired by classic ]s, which contain fictional figures like ], ], ], and ]. More modern horror antagonists like ], ], ], ], and the ] have also become associated with the holiday. Homes are often decorated with these symbols around Halloween.

] and ] are the traditional colors of Halloween. In modern Halloween images and products, ], ] and ] are also prominent. The use of these colors is largely a result of holiday advertising dating back over a century, and tends to be associated with various aspects of Halloween tradition.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ COLOR ASSOCIATIONS
! Color
! Symbolism
|-
| Black
| death, night, witches, black cats, bats, vampires
|-
| Orange
| pumpkins, jack o' lanterns, Autumn, the turning leaves, fire
|-
| Purple
| night, the supernatural, mysticism
|-
| Green
| goblins, monsters, zombies
|-
| White
| ], ], a full ]
|-
| Red
| blood, fire, ], ]
|}

Elements of the ] season, such as ]s and ]s, are also reflected in symbols of Halloween.

==Trick-or-treating and guising==
{{main | Trick-or-treating}}
===United States and Canada===
]
The main event for children of modern Halloween in the United States and Canada is ], in which children disguise themselves in ]s and go door-to-door in their neighborhoods, ringing each doorbell and yelling "trick or treat!" Although the practice resembles the older traditions of '']'' in ] and ], ritual begging on Halloween does not appear in English-speaking North America until the 20th century, and may have developed independently. Upon receiving trick-or-treaters, the house occupants (who might also be in costume) often hand out small ], miniature ]s, loose change, or ]. Some homes will use ] and ]s to help establish an eerie atmosphere. Other less scary house decoration themes might be used to entertain younger visitors. Children can often accumulate many treats on Halloween night, filling up entire pillow cases, shopping bags or large plastic containers.

===Ireland===
In places of ], huge bonfires are lit. Young children in disguise are gladly received by the neighbors with "fruit, miniature ]s, loose change, peanuts and of course sweets(Candy)" for the "Halloween Party", whilst older male siblings play innocent pranks on their bewildered victims. Some homes will put up decorations including Halloween lights. Since schoolchildren have the week off for Halloween, it is common for teenagers to spend weeknights out with friends pranking and causing mischief, if not trick-or-treating themselves.

===United Kingdom===
In ], children or ''guisers'' are more likely to recite "The sky is blue, the grass is green, may we have our Halloween" instead of "trick or treat!" Walking in groups, the children visit neighbors and must impress them with a song, poem, trick, joke or dance in order to earn treats. Traditionally, nuts, oranges, apples and dried fruit were offered, though children might earn a small amount of cash, usually a sixpence. (Participation was also open to very young children, for whom the experience of performing could be more terrifying than ghosts and goblins).

In ], trick-or-treating does occur, particularly in working class neighborhoods. In general, however, the practice is regarded as a nuisance at best and a menacing form of begging at worst.<ref name = "BBC Outfits">{{cite news | title = Halloween outfits 'create fear' | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/5354030.stm | publisher = BBC News|date = ] | accessdate = 2006-10-31}}</ref> In some areas, households have started to put decorations on the front door to indicate that 'trick-or-treaters' are welcome, the idea being that 'trick-or-treaters' avoid a house not 'participating' in the custom. Tricks currently play a less prominent role, though Halloween night is often marked by vandalism such as soaping windows, ] houses or stringing toilet paper through trees. Before indoor plumbing was ubiquitous, tipping over or displacing ]s was a popular form of vandalism. Casting flour into the faces of feared neighbors was also common practice at one time.

===Popular costumes===
]
Typical ]s have traditionally been those of monsters such as ]s, ]s, ], ]es, and ]s. In recent years, it has become common for costumes to be based on themes other than traditional horror, such as those of characters from ]s or ], or choosing a recognizable face from the public sphere, such as a politician. (In 2004, for example, ] and ] were popular costumes in America).{{Fact|date=September 2007}} In 2001, after the ], for example, costumes of, ]s, ]s, and United States military personnel became popular.{{Fact|date=September 2007}}

===Costume sales===
BIGresearch conducted a survey for the ] in the United States and found that 53.3% of consumers planned to buy a costume for Halloween 2005, spending $38.11 on average (up 10 dollars from the year before). They were also expected to spend $4.96 billion in 2006, up significantly from just $3.29 billion the previous year.<ref>{{cite web | last = Grannis | first = Kathy | authorlink = | coauthors = Scott Krugman | title = As Halloween Shifts to Seasonal Celebration, Retailers Not Spooked by Surge in Spending | work = | publisher = National Retail Federation | date = 20 September 2006 | url = http://www.nrf.com/content/default.asp?folder=press/release2006&file=halloween06.htm | format = HTML | doi = | accessdaymonth = 31 October | accessyear=2006}}</ref>

===UNICEF===
"'Trick-or-Treat for ]" has become a common sight during Halloween in North America. Started as a local event in a ] suburb in 1950, and expanded nationally in 1952, the program involves the distribution of small boxes by schools to trick-or-treaters, in which they can solicit small change donations from the houses they visit. It is estimated that children have collected more than $119 million (]) for UNICEF since its inception. In 2006, UNICEF discontinued their Halloween collection boxes in parts of the world, citing safety and administrative concerns. <ref name = "ctv">{{cite news | first = Genevieve | last = Beauchemin | coauthors = CTV.ca News Staff | title = UNICEF to end Halloween 'orange box' program | url = http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060530/unicef_orange_060530?s_name=&no_ads= | publisher = CTV|date = ] | accessdate = 2006-10-29}}</ref>

===Growing out of trick-or-treating===
A child usually "grows out of" trick-or-treating at around age twelve. Trick-or-treating by teenagers is accepted but generally discouraged by those handing out candy. Teenagers and adults instead often celebrate Halloween with ], bonfire parties, staying home to give out candy, listening to Halloween music, watching ] or scaring people.

==Games and other activities==
{{Unreferencedsection|date=August 2007}}
] from 1904, ] is depicted: the young woman looking into a mirror in a darkened room hopes to catch a glimpse of the face of her future husband.]] There are several games traditionally associated with Halloween parties. The most common is dooking or ], in which ]s float in a tub or a large basin of ]; the participants must use their ] to remove an apple from the basin. A variant of dooking involves kneeling on a chair, holding a fork between the teeth and trying to drop the fork into an apple. Another common game involves hanging up ] or ]-coated ] by strings; these must be eaten without using hands while they remain attached to the string, an activity which inevitably leads to a very sticky face.

Some games traditionally played at Halloween are forms of ]. In ''Puicíní'' (pronounced "poocheeny"), a game played in Ireland, a blindfolded person is seated in front of a table on which several saucers are placed. The saucers are shuffled and the seated person then chooses one by touch. The contents of the saucer determine the person's life during the following year. A saucer containing earth means someone known to the player will die during the next year, a saucer containing water foretells emigration, a ring foretells marriage, a set of ] indicates that the person will take ] (becoming a ] or a ]). A coin means new wealth, a bean means poverty, and so on. In 19th-century ], young women placed slugs in saucers sprinkled with flour. The wriggling of the slugs and the patterns subsequently left behind on the saucers were believed to portray the faces of the women's future spouses.{{Fact|date=March 2007}} A traditional Irish and Scottish form of divining one's future spouse is to carve an apple in one long strip, then toss the peel over one's shoulder. The peel is believed to land in the shape of the first letter of the future spouse's name. This custom has survived among Irish and Scottish immigrants in the rural United States.

In ], unmarried women were frequently told that if they sat in a darkened room and gazed into a mirror on Halloween night, the face of their future husband would appear in the mirror. However, if they were destined to die before marriage, a ] would appear. The custom was widespread enough to be commemorated on ]s from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

The telling of ] and viewing of ]s are common fixtures of Halloween parties. Episodes of TV series and ] with Halloween themes (with the specials usually aimed at children) are commonly aired on or before the holiday while new horror films, like the popular ], are often released theatrically before the holiday to take advantage of the atmosphere.

Visiting a ] like a haunted house or ] (especially in the northeastern or midwest of the USA) are other Halloween practices. Notwithstanding the name, such events are not necessarily held in houses, nor are the edifices themselves necessarily regarded to possess actual ghosts. A variant of the haunted house is the "haunted trail", where the public encounters supernatural-themed characters or presentations of scenes from horror films while following a trail through a field or forest. One of the largest Halloween attractions in the United States is ] in California, which features re-themed amusement park rides and a dozen different walkthrough mazes, plus hundreds of costumed roving performers. Among other theme parks, ]'s ] stages a special separate admission event after regular park hours called '''] Not-So-Scary Halloween Party''' featuring a parade, stage show featuring Disney villains and a ] fireworks show with a Halloween theme. The ] theme parks in Hollywood and Orlando also feature annual Halloween events, dubbed '']''.

====Foods====
]
Because the holiday comes in the wake of the annual apple harvest, ]s (also known as toffee, taffy or caramel apples) are a common Halloween treat made by rolling whole apples in a sticky sugar syrup, and sometimes rolling them in nuts. At one time, candy apples were commonly given to children, but the practice rapidly waned in the wake of widespread rumors that some individuals were embedding items like pins and razor blades in the apples. While there is evidence of such incidents,<ref>http://www.snopes.com/horrors/mayhem/needles.asp</ref> they are quite rare and have never resulted in serious injury. Nonetheless, many parents assumed that such heinous practices were rampant; at the peak of the hysteria, some hospitals offered free x-rays of children's Halloween hauls in order to find evidence of tampering. Virtually all of the few known candy poisoning incidents involved parents who poisoned their own children's candy, while there have been occasional reports of children putting needles in their own (and other children's) candy in a mere bid for attention.
One Halloween custom which persists in modern-day day Ireland is the baking (or more often nowadays the purchase) of a ] (Irish "báirín breac"), which is a light ] into which a plain ring is placed before baking. It is said that those who get a ring will find their true love in the ensuing year. ''See also ].''
Other foods associated with the holiday:
* ]
* Báirín Breac (Ireland)
* ] (Ireland)
* ] (in the UK)
* ] (Australia when celebrated, England, Wales and Scotland, instead of "Candy Apples")
* Hot ]
* ]
* Roasted ]
* ]
* Roasted ] seeds
* ] and ]
* "Fun-sized" or individually wrapped pieces of small candy, typically in Halloween colors of orange, and brown/black.
* Novelty candy shaped like skulls, pumpkins, bats, worms, etc.
* Small bags of chips, pretzels and cheese corn
* Chocolates, caramels, and gum.

==Cultural history==
===Origin: Celtic observation of Samhain===<!-- This section is linked from ] -->
According to what can be reconstructed of the beliefs of the ancient Celts, the bright half of the year ended around ] or on a moon-phase near that date, or at the time of first frost. The day is referred to in modern Gaelic as ] ("Sow-in" or alternatively "Sa-ven", meaning: End of the Summer). After the adoption of the Roman calendar with its fixed months, the date began to be celebrated independently of the Moon's phases.

As October 31 is the last day of the bright half of the year, the next day also marked the beginning of winter, which the Celts often associated with death, and with the slaughter of livestock to provide meat for the coming winter. The Celts believed that on ], the boundary separating the dead from the living became blurred. There is a rich and unusual myth system at work here; the spirit world, the residence of the "]", as well as of the dead, was accessible through burial mounds. These mounds were opened twice during the year, on Samhain and ], making the beginning and end of summer spiritually resonant.

The Celts' survival during the harsh winters depended on the prophecies of their priests and priestesses (]), and the accurate prediction of how much food would be needed to sustain the populace before the next harvest. They believed that spirits would aid in making accurate predictions about the coming year.

The exact customs observed in each Celtic region differ, but generally involved the lighting of bonfires and the reinforcement of boundaries, across which malicious spirits might be prevented from threatening the community.

Like most observances around this season, warmth and comfort were emphasised, while indulgence was not. Stores of preserved food were needed to last through the winter, and were not intended for parties.

====Samhain possibly mistaken as New Year====
Popular literature over the last century has given birth to the near universal assumption that Samhain/Hallowe'en was the "Celtic New Year". However, recent research by historians has begun to scrutinize the assertion. Historian ], in his study of the folk calendar of the British Isles writes that there are no references which attest to this usage earlier than the 18th century, neither in church nor civic records.<ref name = "Hutton"/> Although it may be correct to refer to Samhain as "Summer's End", this point of descent into the year's darkness may require better proof for us to cite this "end" as a "beginning" as well. Whether or not the ancient Celts considered Samhain to be the beginning of the new year, or just one point in the cycle of the seasons, the living traditions in the ] and the diaspora regard it as the "Celtic New Year" and it continues to be celebrated as such. For instance, the calendars produced by the ] begin and end at Samhain/Halloween.<ref name = Calendar>{{cite web | url = http://www.celticleague.org/calendar.html | title = The Celtic League Calendar | accessdate = 2006-11-22 | date = n.d. | format = HTML | publisher = The Celtic League}}</ref>

===Norse Elven Blót===
In the old ], an event believed to occur around the same time of the year as Halloween was the '']'' (elven '']''), which involved sacrifices to the ] and the blessing of food. The elves were powers connected to the ancestors, and it can be assumed that the blót related to a cult of the ancestors. The álfablót is also celebrated in the modern revival of Norse religion, ].

==Religious perspectives and controversies ==
In ] Halloween is far more traditional an event then in ], with more cultural and historical significance, as opposed to the ] importance on the other side of the ]. Therefore even amongst most ] it is a far more accepted holiday with hardly any moral objections, in particular amongst ]. However some people do find an ] occurring towards Halloween, which in turn could affect some traditions, notably the ] origins of the festival. It should also be noted that ] night is not celebrated in the ] at all. (In fact it is prohibited as it is a British ] celebration of Catholic failure to overthrow the ] in the 1605 ]. In the past, it was used in Britain as a celebration of ]). Therefore Halloween replaces the celebrations that are experienced in the ] on ], whereas in Britain ] is culturally more important.

In ], ] attitudes towards Halloween are quite diverse. The fact that ] and Halloween occur on two consecutive days has left some Christians uncertain of how they should treat this holiday. In the ], some ] have chosen to emphasize the Christian traditions of ],<ref name = "www.manchester.anglican.org">{{cite web | url = http://www.manchester.anglican.org/News/news.asp?ID=352 | title = Bishop challenges supermarkets to lighten up Halloween | accessdate = 2006-10-22 | date = n.d. | format = HTML | publisher = www.manchester.anglican.org}}</ref><ref name = "newadvent.org">{{cite web | url = http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01315a.htm | title = Halloween and All Saints Day | accessdate = 2006-10-22 | date = n.d. | format = HTML | publisher = newadvent.org}}</ref> while some ] celebrate the holiday as ], a day of remembrance and prayers for unity.<ref name = "RefDay">{{cite web | url = http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=15084&loc_id=9,612,32,52 | title = Reformation Day: What, Why, and Resources for Worship | accessdate = 2006-10-22 | date = 2005-10-21 | format = HTML | publisher = The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church}}</ref> ]s may have Samhain services that focus on the cultural aspects of the holiday, in the belief that many ancient Celtic customs are "compatible with the new Christian religion. Christianity embraced the Celtic notions of family, community, the bond among all people, and respect for the dead. Throughout the centuries, pagan and Christian beliefs intertwine in a ''gallimaufry'' (hodgepodge) of celebrations from October 31 through November 5, all of which appear both to challenge the ascendancy of the dark and to revel in its mystery."<ref name = "CelticChristians">{{cite web | url = http://allsaintsbrookline.org/celtic/samhain.html | title = Feast of Samhain/Celtic New Year/Celebration of All Celtic Saints November 1 | accessdate = 2006-11-22 | date = n.d. | format = HTML | publisher = All Saints Parish}}</ref>

Some Christian churches commonly offer a fall festival or harvest-themed alternative to Halloween. Most Christians ascribe no significance to Halloween, treating it as a purely secular entity devoted to celebrating "imaginary spooks" and handing out ]. Halloween celebrations are common among ] parochial schools throughout North America, and in Ireland, the Catholic Church sees it as a "harmless ancient custom."{{Citequote}} Father Gabriele Amorth, a Vatican-appointed ] in Rome, has said, "f English and American children like to dress up as witches and devils on one night of the year that is not a problem. If it is just a game, there is no harm in that."<ref>Gyles Brandreth, "" ''The Sunday Telegraph'' (London), March 11, 2000.</ref> Most Christians hold the view that the tradition is far from being "satanic" in origin or practice and that it holds no threat to the spiritual lives of children: being taught about ] and mortality, and the ways of the ]ic ancestors actually being a valuable life lesson and a part of many of their parishioners' heritage.<ref name = "CelticChristians">

Other Christians, primarily of the ] and ] variety, are concerned about Halloween, and reject the holiday because they believe it trivializes (and celebrates) "the occult" and what they perceive as ].<ref>''Halloween: Satan's New Year'' (2006) by Billye Dymally, ''Halloween: Counterfeit Holy Day'' (2005) by Kele Gershom, and ''Halloween: What's a Christian to Do?'' (1998) by Steve Russo. An opposing viewpoint is found in ''The Magic Eightball Test: A Christian Defense of Halloween and All Things Spooky'' (2006) by Lint Hatcher.</ref>
A response among some fundamentalists in recent years has been the use of '']s'' or themed pamphlets (such as those of ]) which attempt to make use of Halloween as an opportunity for evangelism.<ref name = "www.rcab.org">{{cite web | url = http://www.rcab.org/Pilot/2004/ps041105/saintfest.html | title = Salem ‘Saint Fest’ restores Christian message to Halloween | accessdate = 2006-10-22 | date = n.d. | format = HTML | publisher = www.rcab.org}}</ref> Some consider Halloween to be completely incompatible with the Christian faith <ref name = "www.thercg.org">{{cite web | url = http://www.thercg.org/articles/totuh.html | title = “Trick?” or “Treat?” - Unmasking Halloween| accessdate = 2007-09-21 | date = n.d. | format = HTML | publisher = The Restored Church of God}}</ref>, due to "its preoccupation with the occult in symbols, masks and costumes," its origin as a ] "festival of the dead", and the fact that it is also observed, albeit in a non-traditional form, by ].{{Fact|date=August 2007}} In more recent years, the ] Archdiocese of Boston has organised a "Saint Fest" on the holiday.<ref name = "www.rcab.org">{{cite web | url = http://www.rcab.org/Pilot/2004/ps041105/saintfest.html | title = Salem ‘Saint Fest’ restores Christian message to Halloween | accessdate = 2006-10-22 | date = n.d. | format = HTML | publisher = www.rcab.org}}</ref>

Many ]s and ]s{{Fact|date=April 2007}} have similar religious objections to Halloween.<ref></ref>

People of diverse religions (or no religion at all) may naturally be concerned about the vandalism and destructive behavior that can occur on the holiday. Halloween is a prime time for vandalism, sometimes targeting holy sites such as places of worship or cemeteries.

Objections to celebrating Halloween are not always limited to those of the ]s. Some ]ns feel that the tradition is offensive to "real witches" for promoting stereotypical caricatures of "wicked witches".<ref name = "Reece">{{cite news | first = Kevin | last = Reece | title = School District Bans Halloween | url = http://www.komotv.com/news/story.asp?ID=33602 | format = | work = | publisher = KOMO News | date = 2004-10-24|accessdate = 2006-09-14}}</ref> Some ] and Wiccans also object to Halloween because they perceive it to be a "vulgarised, commercialised mockery" of the original Samhain rituals. However, other Neopagans, perhaps most of them, see it as a harmless holiday in which some of the old traditions are celebrated by the mainstream culture, albeit in a different manner.{{Fact|date=August 2007}}

==Fiction==
]'s '']'' features the holiday prominently. Halloween is frequently mentioned as an important date in the '']'' book series by ], whose central themes are wizardry and magic. In ]'s ] '']'', several pivotal events occur on Halloween night, including the death of the original ']'. ]'s '']'' and the character of the ] are often linked to the holiday in the public mindset due to later adaptations (though Halloween is not actually mentioned in the original work).

Films in which Halloween plays a major role include adaptations of the above works, plus the '']'' film series, ]'s '']'', ], and '']''.

Numerous ] have been broadcast, notably '']'' and the annual '']'' "]" episodes.

==See also==
{{portalpar|Holidays|Jack-o-lantern.svg}}

*]
*]
*]
*] - a 1978 American independent horror film
* ]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Books==
* Diane C. Arkins, ''Halloween: Romantic Art and Customs of Yesteryear'', Pelican Publishing Company (2000). 96 pages. ISBN 1-56554-712-8
* Diane C. Arkins, ''Halloween Merrymaking: An Illustrated Celebration Of Fun, Food, And Frolics From Halloweens Past'', Pelican Publishing Company (2004). 112 pages. ISBN 1-58980-113-X
* Lesley Bannatyne, "Halloween: An American Holiday, An American History", Facts on File (1990, Pelican Publishing Company, 1998). 180 pages. ISBN 1-56554-346-7
* Lesley Bannatyne, "A Halloween Reader. Stories, Poems and Plays from Halloweens Past", Pelican Publishing Company (2004). 272 pages. 1-58980-176-8
* Phyllis Galembo, ''Dressed for Thrills: 100 Years of Halloween Costumes and Masquerade'', ] (2002). 128 pages. ISBN 0-8109-3291-1
* Hatcher, L. 2006. ''The Magic Eightball Test: A Christian Defense of Halloween and All Things Spooky''. ISBN 978-1847287564
* Ronald Hutton, ''Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain'', Oxford Paperbacks (2001). 560 pages. ISBN 0-19-285448-8
* Jean Markale, ''The Pagan Mysteries of Halloween: Celebrating the Dark Half of the Year'' (translation of ''Halloween, histoire et traditions''), Inner Traditions (2001). 160 pages. ISBN 0-89281-900-6
* Lisa Morton, ''The Halloween Encyclopedia'', McFarland & Company (2003). 240 pages. ISBN 0-7864-1524-X
* Nicholas Rogers, ''Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night'', Oxford University Press (2002). 198 pages. ISBN 0-19-514691-3
* Russo, R. 1998. ''Halloween: What's a Christian to Do?''
* Jack Santino (ed.), ''Halloween and Other Festivals of Death and Life'', University of Tennessee Press (1994). 280 pages. ISBN 0-87049-813-4
* David J. Skal, ''Death Makes A Holiday: A Cultural History of Halloween'', Bloomsbury USA (2003). 224 pages. ISBN 1-58234-305-5
* Ben Truwe, ''The Halloween Catalog Collection''. Portland, Oregon: Talky Tina Press (2003). ISBN 0-9703448-5-6.

==External links==
{{commonscat|Halloween}}
*
*
*
*
* - Celtic Christianity
* from ]
* - Celtic Studies, Gaelic culture and religion
*--Christian alternatives to traditional Halloween celebrations
*

]
]
]
]
]

]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Revision as of 19:33, 21 September 2007

Halloween RULES!