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Halloween Games for Children

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No holiday party would be complete without Halloween games for kids. Aside from helping to set the mood for the party, it gives kids something to do to stay active and burn off the increased levels of sugar intake they get this time of year. Remember, keep the activities fun but safe and appropriate for the age groups attending the Halloween function. Enlist the help of other parents for chaperoning and encourage all the children to participate and it’s sure to be an enjoyable and memorable Halloween party for kids.

Classic Halloween Games for Kids

A standard and traditional Halloween party activity is bobbing for apples. This game can be played using a large metal basin tub or a plastic kiddie pool, but should be done outdoors if possible. Also, it should be played with plenty of supervision since it involves children and water. The players, without using their hands, dunk their heads into the water and try to retrieve apples using only their mouths. Usually, a small group plays against each other in rounds and whoever snags an apple first, or the person who gets the most, is the winner.

Parents who do not feel comfortable with this game, or do not feel like cleaning up water from all over their living room, can offer “Hanging Apple” instead. This alternative to bobbing for apples utilizes apples that have been hung up on a tree limb or sturdy rafter by string. Again, without using their hands, children try to snag the apple using only their mouths.

Pin the nose on the witch is a substitute for the kids’ classic party game pin the tail on the donkey. This can also be done using any form of symbolic Halloween related creature. You can use a decoration from a party store and cut off the part to be pinned. Another option is to trace the part to be pinned and make your own version of it. Maybe even have kids make their own before starting the game. You can have a pin the nose on the jack-o’-lantern, or feet on Frankenstein – just keep it Halloween related.

On Their Feet

One of the great things about party games is that children tend to get plenty of exercise without even knowing it. Some, of course, may offer a little more action than others. This is a great way to tire children out before winding down for the evening. Some of it will depend greatly on how much space you have available.

The Monster Mash has been a classic Halloween tune, as well as a graveyard smash, since around 1962. Using this song, have kids play a different version of freeze tag called “Monster Mash Freeze.” Kids dance while the song is played, but when the music is stopped at random intervals, participants must “freeze” in place or be out. The last one standing is the champ.

Pumpkin bowling is another one of the Halloween games for children that keep them on their feet. You can use a standard plastic bowling set and a mini pumpkin as the ball and have kids compete to knock the most pins down. You can even make it part of a small obstacle course so children run from one holiday themed game to the next.

As a separate game, or as part of the obstacle course, you can also include the eyeball and spoon race. Like the old egg and spoon race but with a Halloween twist, use an egg or ping pong ball painted to look like an eyeball and have kids race to the finish line without dropping the eye. For extra fun have each child decorate their own ping pong ball prior to the race. You can also create a version of this game utilizing a balloon and a paper plate. Again, an option is to have children decorate their balloon first to look like an eyeball. The child who makes it to the finish line first without dropping the balloon from the paper plate is the winner.

A Final Word

The idea is, when in doubt, put a Halloween theme or twist to a classic game and you have a holiday activity. Whatever activities you choose, just keep the kids involved as much as possible. This could mean helping to set up the games or decorating their own object to participate in the activities. Try to give everyone a chance to have a turn and, hopefully, be a winner. Halloween games for children should be fun but safe and add to making it a party to remember.

Halloween Festivals around the United States

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If Halloween is really your kind of holiday than Halloween festivals around the country should be just the thing to get you in the spirit of the holiday. For some people, a costume party or taking the kids trick or treating just isn’t enough. In that case, you’ll be glad to know, there are some places that even celebrate Halloween all month long.

Halloween Festival of Salem, Massachusetts 

It may come as no surprise that the town where the Salem Witch Trials were held has become the party spot to celebrate Halloween all month long. There are different types of planned events throughout the month, some involving the city and some independent groups. It doesn’t matter when you show up; you will find a way to celebrate the holiday.

There’s a week-long Festival of the Dead, a Witches’ Halloween Ball, a Vampire’s Masquerade Ball and a psychic fair, just to name a few of the many options. Of course, Halloween night itself is the most grand of all costumed galas. The entire area closes down the streets to traffic and costumed visitors and residents take over. There are plenty of clubs, bars, street food vendors and random craziness that make this an unbeatable Halloween celebration.

Anoka, Minnesota 

When you think Halloween you certainly think Anoka, MN, right? Though the name may not ring a bell, shockingly, this place is considered the Halloween Capital of the World. This week long event started off as a one day parade and celebration back in the 1920s. The festivities grew until one day became one week. There are plenty of things to do throughout the week, including simply taking in the decorating that practically everyone in town pitches in to do. The usual Halloween events take place, including awarding the best decorated house, and there are now three parades instead of just one.

New York Village

One of the most well known and best loved Halloween parade takes place here. Going on its 39th year, the parade has become quite a spectacle and includes public participation. Costumed New Yorkers and visitors come to mingle with the puppets and performers, such as musicians, dancers and artists. This self-proclaimed Nation’s Most Wildly Creative Halloween parade is a must-see, and must join in, for holiday fans.

Independence, Kansas

Spell Halloween backwards and you have the Neewollah celebration of Independence, KS. This town has been celebrating a backwards version of the holiday since 1919. There is a carnival, parades, a chili cook off and plenty of other Halloween and seasonally appropriate events to attend during this traditional holiday homage. The great pumpkin contest is a real crowd attracting event and most of the activities are fun for the whole family.

Pierce College, Woodland Hills, California 

This festival is now a six week-long event, beating out even Salem, which goes for four weeks. The festival includes a pumpkin patch, corn maze and haunted house and trail. It is the perfect combination of family fun, country autumn fair and spooky Halloween attraction. Kids will love the farm animals and hay ride if they aren’t at the age to enjoy the Factory of Nightmares Haunted House just yet. Parts of the festival, such as the corn maze and haunted house and trail even go until midnight on weekends.

Irvington, Indianapolis 

The Historic Irvington Halloween Festival is a traditional part of the holiday that has been happening for more than 60 years. Designed to bring some attention and tourists to the town, this festival is now just shy of a full month of celebrations. The variety of events included are eclectic, to say the least. From a roller derby to ghost story telling or a five mile run followed in the evening by Halloween-themed movies, there is sure to be something for everyone who attends. The Historic Irvington Halloween Festival also includes music, a pageant, theater, haunted puppet shows and ghost tours.

Finding Halloween Festivities

If you can travel, there is a world of opportunities to available to go all out celebrating Halloween. From single day events to six week festivals, there are all kinds of spooky or family friendly events to enjoy Halloween, or just autumn in general. All you have to do is search around a little and you will be sure to find something that suits your Halloween needs.

Even within your own town, or neighboring areas, there is sure to be something happening to pay homage to the holiday. More and more, towns are starting or elaborating on the events planned to honor Halloween.

Halloween Crafts

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Making your own crafts for Halloween means making a whole lot of fun, and each finished craft project is a unique one that only you could have made.  House decorations are terrific ways to accommodate guests, whether at a party or tick or treaters.  They are usually super-easy to make and quite inexpensive.  We have some tips below and hopefully they will help you to realize a few crafts of your own.

  • Design a pumpkin or ghost-like face on empty one-gallon milk jugs then paint on the face.  After you’ve cut out a back hole, light the jugs with candles or bulbs.  Those battery operated candles are the best, and safest.
  • Get a few of those twig wreaths from the craft store and seasonal decorative items and flowers for them.  You can make a Fall one first for Halloween, then one for Winter, Spring and Summer.
  • Spiders!  These can be made from all sorts of found and purchased objects.  One of the easiest is to get 8 of those chenille stems, a couple of googly eyes, a small styrofoam ball, and a suction cup.  Paint the ball with appropriate paint, stick the stems in like legs, glue on the eyes and suction cup, and stick it on your windows.
  • Make a crowd of ghosts for the front lawn — Set up a few tomato cages and use twigs for arms.  Weave a strand of lights through the cage and test to see if they light up.  Cover with sheet or muslin and always use tiny lights for safety.
  • Eyes on the passersby.  Use ping pong balls and tea lights which are battery powered.  Paint the ping pong ball to look like an eyeball then cut a small hole in the bottom and stick it on to the tea light.  Line up in your front window on a ledge.
  • Purchase one or more of those white translucent paper globe lights.  Decorate with scrapbooking or construction paper and then plug it in.  This is one lit owl!
  • Paint acorns orange then draw faces on them with a permanent marker.  Arrange the tiny “pumpkins” how you like.  This is a good one for kids as the pumpkins like tiny hands to make them!
  • Pumpkins can be changed into baseball players.  Put a real hat on them, paint some eyes and part of a face, then blow up a small pink balloon, tie it off, then make a small hole and poke it into the pumpkin where the mouth would be.
  • Your own batmobile, or other mobile.  Start with a wire hanger then cut out bat shapes and hang them from the hangar with twine or fishing line.  Make a hangar go through another at right angles and you’ll have more hanging points.  Use pumpkins instead, or ghosts.
  • Paint small pumpkins black, put on fierce eyes, cut out wings from craft foam, and you’ll have some unique bat-pumpkins.  If you paint the eyes differently they will have different expressions.
  • An assortment of creepy creatures.  Use craft foam and cut out bats and spiders and black cats.  You can out these on a mirror or the inside of your windows.
  • Bats that are fuzzy.  Cut a little puff off of a feather boa, attach craft foam wings and eyes, and you’ll have a whole bunch of bat kitties.
  • Cut a band of paper and measure it to fit around a votive candle holder.  Cut eyes out of the paper in pairs and when a candle is lit, the eyes will dance.
  • If you are camping around Halloween, then make yourself a nice sign out of cardboard like :  The Smith’s Campsite.  Decorate with leaves and hang on the nearest to the campsite post.
  • Permanent pumpkins can be made by using clay pots, upside down, and decorate with yellow Jack O’Lantern faces and a piece of foam or branch for the stem.
  • If you have a pair of windows in your house, then decorate each half from the inside to look like a Jack O’Lantern from the outside.
  • Make a big spider for your window by using a half of a large styrofoam egg, then sticking bendable foam legs into the side.  Don’t forget there are 8!
  • Use battery powered tea lights in small brown paper bags and line your walkway with them.

Halloween Costumes for Infants, Toddlers and Babies

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Some of the best “photo ops” for youngsters are in their Halloween costumes for infants, toddlers and babies. The best part, for some parents, is that at this age, parents still get to select the holiday costumes young children wear. This means selecting adorable costumes that, probably someday, the children wouldn’t select themselves. So, this is a good time to put some thought into the look you want for your children on Halloween.

Ideas for Halloween Costumes for Infants, Toddlers and Babies 

The thing is, really, that the costume ideas are similar to the choices available at any age. There may just be a different approach to the costume, such as the onesie, as opposed to a more complex costume. Also, costumes or accessories will have to be monitored closely for details that could be a choking hazard or otherwise dangerous for infants, toddlers and babies. Most store bought costumes for babies will be free from safety hazards, but it is always a good idea to double check. Also, anything that could potentially become loose and cause a problem, such as a button, should be given a few extra hand stitches, just to be safe.

So now, it is more about finding something that is cute and comfy for your youngster. Animal themes and bugs are popular choices for babies, infants and toddlers. These selections are cute and stick with the idea of having a holiday costume, without being too spooky for Halloween. For this, the sky is the limit. There are choices such as lions, ladybugs, frogs, penguins, tigers and elephants, just to name a few. You can also consider the less obvious choices, that aren’t animals, but are still cute and fun. A Tootsie Roll, for example, or a pine tree shaped air freshener.

Or, maybe you like going the traditional route and want a little ghostly baby or more traditional or Halloween themed costume. Is that case, one easy choice for babies to wear is the jack o’lantern costume. There are also outfits of the more macabre nature, like Dracula, with a headpiece to create the infamous widow’s peak at the forehead. Then check online, or at your local baby clothing store, for the fang pacifiers. These look like a pair of fangs when baby has the pacifier in his or her mouth.

More Basic or DIY Costumes for Infants, Toddlers and Babies

If you would like to keep it more simple, try using less to say more. A headband with little kitten ears, a black onesie and a pinned on tail create an adorable cat look. Or, look for a onesie or bodysuit that simply has a pattern or theme. Examples of this easy costume are a cow print bodysuit or one with a Superman emblem on the front. There are also hooded bodysuits, or standard ones, that come with prints on them to act as a costume. A skeleton, for example, or a bumble bee are just two of the many choices available for this approach.

Or, use a crafty approach and do it yourself. Hooded sweatshirts work great for this approach. A basic orange sweatshirt with some cleverly placed piece of black electrical tape create a jack-o’-lantern costume. Sew together some basic ears and attach them to a “hoodie” for any animal you would like, such as a mouse.

Incorporate Baby into Your Costume Idea

Another great approach to dressing your infant, toddler or baby for Halloween is to coordinate your outfit to work with the youngsters. A popular idea for this method is to have the adult as Dorothy and the baby as Toto from The Wizard of Oz. Or think about other ways to work the costumes as an intertwined theme. Winnie the Pooh and Piglet or dressing as a police officer with a little baby bandit are two other ideas.

To get inspired, think about movies or cartoons you like and imagine how some of the characters could work as costumes. If your toddler, or you, just love the Peanuts Gang, dress as Snoopy with a baby Woodstock. Browse online for other ideas, and surely the perfect Halloween collaboration for you and your baby will become obvious.

The Bottom Line 

The idea of dressing your baby, and possibly yourself, for Halloween is to keep it fun and hassle free. It can be easy to get caught up in stressing over the perfect costume or having costumes with “wardrobe malfunctions” and end up not enjoying the holiday. As soon as your infant is dressed, get your photos done, that way if the costume falls apart or becomes uncomfortable after a bit, you already have the pictures out of the way. Halloween Costumes for infants, toddlers and babies can be a great way to make the most of the holiday.

Halloween Around the World – Japan, Belgium, Austria and more

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Halloween is an old holiday and it’s evolved from those first Druid & Celtic roots, to what’s celebrated today.  In Canada and the US is where it’s most popular.  Up to 65% of Americans decorate for Halloween and Christmas is the only holiday which is more popular.   More candy is sold on Halloween than on any other holiday and every country which celebrates Halloween at all, does so in its own unique way.

Halloween in Austria

Just like at Christmas in North America with milk & cookies for Santa, Austrians have a tradition of leaving water, bread, and a lighted lamp on the table before going to bed on Halloween night.  From long ago, the tradition held that these types of items would welcome any dead souls back to the land of the living.  Austrians felt that Halloween was a night chock full of cosmic energy and this made the dead souls’ return for a night much easier.

Halloween in Canada

Irish and Scottish immigrants arrived in Canada during the 1800s.  Festivities included trick or treating and parties, homes decorated with corn stalks and pumpkins, plus the carving of Jack O’Lanterns.

Halloween in Belgium

Belgian’s believe that a black cat crossing someone’s path is unlucky.  If it goes on a ship or enters a home, then that’s also unlucky and Belgians light candles on Halloween to remember dead relatives.

Halloween in Czechoslovakia

Chairs are put by the fireside on Halloween and they are one per family member, plus one for each of their spirits.

Halloween in China

Halloween is known by Teng Chieh here.  Water and food are placed in front of dead relatives’ photographs.  Lanterns and bonfires are lit so that spirits can see the pathway back to earth.  Buddhists make little boats from paper and these are burned when it gets dark and this honors the dead, plus spirits of pretas are released and can ascend into heaven.  Pretas are people who died because they drowned or had an accident and their bodies weren’t able to be buried.  If pretas roam amongst the living, the Chinese feel that it’s dangerous.

Halloween in England

English children used to carve beetroots like Jack O’Lanterns.  They carried these “punkies”  from door to door and sang, then asked for money.  Turnip lanterns were placed on posts to protect the home form spirits roaming around on Halloween.  Sometimes, stones, nuts and vegetables were tossed into a bonfire to scare away spirits and fortune telling was often read into the remains of the bonfire in the morning.  The English people no longer celebrated Halloween when Martin Luther had his protestant reformation.  Costumes and trick or treating have crossed back over the pond into England and the children there go out on Halloween.  Most seniors in England don’t know what it’s all about.

Halloween in France

Until 1996, Halloween was thought of as an American holiday and the French do not celebrate it to honor the dearly departed.

Halloween in Hong Kong

Yue Lan is the name of the Halloween celebration in Hong Kong.  Spirits supposedly roam freely for 24 hours and people there burned photos of money and fruit.

Halloween in Germany

Residents of Germany put their knives away on Halloween because returning spirits could be harmed.

Halloween in Japan

In Japan, the Obon festival is similar to Halloween.  Food is prepared and red lanterns are hung all over.  When lit candles are placed into the lanterns they are set adrift on rivers.  Families light fires to show ancestors the path to their families and community dances are put on, and memorial stones are cleaned during the Obon Festival.  The Japanese festival happens during August or July.

Halloween in Ireland

This is supposed to be the birthplace of Halloween.  Bonfires are lit in the countryside and children dress in costumes then go trick or treating.  Parties are given in neighborhoods and games are played, one of which is bobbing for apples.  A type of fruitcake is eaten on Halloween and a treasure is buried inside for someone to find.

Halloween Crafts for the Holiday

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Halloween crafts can be projects that bring the entire family together. These are projects that can be used to decorate the home, so that your house is transformed into a spooky and festive place. It also gives you ideas for things you can do with groups of children at Halloween parties or school craft classes. Whatever your reason, Halloween is a great time to get crafting.

Halloween Crafts for the Yard

Aside from the classic and traditional carved pumpkin jack-o’-lantern, there are other things you can do to get creative and make the exterior of your house look festive. In fact, you can add to your jack-o’-lanterns with other styles of decor that have the same idea. Turn flower pots into painted pumpkins, either upside down or right side up.

You can also use empty milk or orange juice jugs for a new twist on an old classic. Using a black marker you can create ghost faces on white milk jugs or jack-o’-lantern looks on the orange juice ones. Using a blade to cut away part of the bottom, you can use Christmas or string-bulb lights to illuminate the inside. Put as many bulbs in as you like, then set more jugs side by side with the rest of the string lights running into these.

Also, make use of what you have on hand and create a giant black spider to scare the neighbors. Using a giant black trash bag stuffed with leaves, you create the body. The head is the same process, only a smaller end result. Twist more bags in pairs lengthwise to create the legs, then use black electrical tape to fasten it all together. Get creative with eyes; you can cut them from plastic cups, paper plates, construction paper or paint them on. Don’t forget fangs and an hourglass for a really sinister arachnid.

Bats and Spiders

Speaking of giant spiders, not much else creeps people out for Halloween more than spiders and bats. So what better way to get creative with Halloween crafts than to incorporate these critters into the plan. One method you can use includes mini-pumpkins as the body of either one.

The basic idea is to paint the pumpkins black, and be creative with the faces. Wings, ears or spider legs can be created from thick construction paper, poster board or craft foam. You can also use pipe cleaners to create spider legs or add dimension to bat wings. Simply glue on or attach with black electrical tape.

The same principle can be applied to creating bats or spiders from black balloons. A larger one for the body, smaller for the head, and use paper for the features. Make eyes, ears, fangs, wings or legs and attach with glue or tape. Remember, the balloons don’t get filled very full. That way you avoid them popping or looking like overstuffed critters.

Recycle, Reuse and Get Scary

A great way to make decorations is by repurposing items meant to go to the trash bin and giving them a new use. The skeleton of plastic bottles is a neat way to do this. Keep in mind though, it does require cutting, and only adults can do most of this activity. Also, you can use clear or white, or paint clear bottles white, but you want to end up with a consistent end result.

Milk jugs become the head and chest cavity by bringing them together where the lid openings are. Your child can paint on a skeleton face while you do some cutting of the ribs. The pelvis is yet another jug, but just the bottom part cut and shaped a bit like hips. The bones are made from plastic bottles, with or without the centers cut out. It looks more realistic with them cut, but does not have to be. Attach the bones with wire so the skeleton has some realistic movement involved.

Use old white sheets stuffed with old newspapers to create ghosts around the home. If you have some old white pillowcases too, then you can vary the size of the ghosts. Either use the entire sheet, or divide into smaller sections for a family of ghosts. Decorate the faces with markers, partially fill with newspaper and cinch off with wire or rubber bands. Suspend them from rafters or doorways to spook your guests.

There are plenty of ways to get crafty for Halloween, decorate the home and create some family bonding moments. Have kids offer their own ideas or at least express their individuality by decorating pieces. Halloween crafts can be saved for the next year when a whole new bunch of ideas get added.

Halloween Ghost Stories

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Ghost Stories

The original Celtic holiday of Samhain included spirits of the dead returning to walk among the living.  Ghost stories have been a part of Halloween since the beginning.

Halloween ghost stories can be told around a bonfire, or in a darkened living room.  It doesn’t matter where they are told, as long as the atmosphere is spooky and the stories are scary.

The most famous American ghost story told on Halloween is probably The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving.  The ghost in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is the terrifying Headless Horseman.  The Headless Horseman is the ghost of a German soldier from the Revolutionary War who had his head blown off by a cannonball.  The Headless Horseman is always seen riding around the isolated glen of Sleepy Hollow at midnight, looking for his missing head, and in the story, he might – or might not – have replaced his missing head with the head of Ichabod Crane and left a Jack O’Lantern behind in its place.

Another classic ghost story is The Monkey’s Paw by W.W. Jacobs.  Mr. and Mrs. White and their son Herbert inherit a monkey’s paw from India, which is said to grant three wishes.  Mrs. White wishes for money, and within a few days, her son Herbert dies in an accident at work and she receives the money.  Overcome with grief, Mrs. Herbert wishes for her son to come back from the grave, although her husband thinks it’s a bad idea.

Soon, someone is knocking at their door.  Knock.  Knock.  Knock. Mr. White identified his son’s body, which has been buried for over a week.  He knows that whatever is knocking on the door will look and be so terrifying that he can’t let him in.  At the last minute, Mr. White grabs the monkey’s paw and wishes the gruesome dead Herbert back to the grave.

Some ghosts are in every culture.  The mysterious “Girl in White” appears in American ghost tales as a barefoot hitchhiking girl.  Whoever stops to pick her up on a lonely country road hears a sad tale of how she was abandoned on her wedding night, and just wants to get home.  But by the time the driver reaches the place the girl calls home, he finds an abandoned house, and when he turns to ask if it’s the right place, the girl has vanished.  In Mexico, the “Girl in White” is a beautiful girl named Consuela who dances with an eager young man at a dance.  The young man rushes to tell his friends about the beautiful girl he has danced with, and they tell him that he was dancing alone.  When he returns to Consuela, she vanishes into mist and he realizes that he has been dancing with a ghost.

Edgar Allan Poe’s famous story The Tell-Tale Heart is always scary, especially to those who hear it for the first time.  A poor young man moves in with an older man, who is very kind and generous, but whose appearance has been ruined by illness.  The young man begins to fear and hate the old man’s ugly “vulture” eye.  Every night for eight nights, the young man creeps in the old man’s bedroom with thoughts of murder, in order to get rid of the old man’s ugly, scary eye.  Each time, he is stopped because the old man’s horrible eye is closed.  On the eighth night, a beam of moonlight falls on the old man’s face, and the eye is open!

The young man smothers the old man, to silence his cries and his extremely loud beating heart, racing in terror.  The young man buries the old man under the floorboards in the kitchen.

When police come to question the young man, he is pleasant and reasonable at first, answering all of their questions.  As the officers stay, the young man hears a heart beating under the floorboards.  It grows louder and louder until the young man can’t take it any longer and leaps up, confessing to the murder and asking how they can’t hear the old man’s heart beating as loudly as it is.

History and Origins of Halloween

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The Halloween.bizbiz Articles and Information pages have information about everything we can think of related toHalloween.

The categories are listed on this page, but include everything from the History of Halloween, Halloween food, Halloween Costumes, pumpkin carving, trick or treating,  to Halloween Around the World plus a whole lot more.

History and Origins of Halloween

One of the world’s oldest holidays, Halloween didn’t start out as a holiday for costumes, trick-or-treating or carving pumpkins.  The Halloween celebrated today has elements of several different religious and cultural traditions.  The name Halloween is an abbreviation of “All Hallows Eve,” a traditional name for the Catholic holiday of All Saints’ Day.

Halloween wouldn’t be what it is today if not for the Celtic holiday of Samhain, an ancient celebration of the spirits of the dead.  A Roman festival called Feralia is another Halloween inspiration.  Although Feralia occurred in February, it was a public festival where citizens made offerings and sacrifices to calm the spirits of the dead so they wouldn’t haunt the living.

The original Celtic holiday of Samhain occurred on November 1, not October 31.  Samhain was one of the most important holidays for Celtic people, and its festivals were conducted by their priests, the Druids.  On Samhain, the Celtic people believed that the spirits of those who had died over the course of the year would mingle with the living before traveling on to the afterlife.  In addition to the spirits of departed souls, other supernatural creatures like fairies and demons came out “to play” during Samhain.  Festivals and celebrations were meant to aid the good souls on their way, and keep bad spirits from doing harm to the living.  Samhain also celebrated the harvest, and foods associated with fall, such as apples, pumpkins, spices and cider, were part of the early traditional celebrations.

Read more in the History of Halloween section.

If you can think of things that we should add, please feel free to let us know!

Thanks for visiting, and Happy Halloween!

Christian Halloween

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Christian perspective on Halloween

An Episcopal (e.g. Protestant) Christian’s view.

Since the eighth century Christians have celebrated All Saints’ Day on November 1 to celebrate the known and unknown Christian Saints. Saints are not just those whom the Church has canonized, but all members of that “cloud of witnesses” who proclaim Jesus as Lord – anyone! 

Almost as old as the celebration of All Saints’ Day is the tradition associated with All Hallow’s Eve. (“Hallows” mean “saints,” both mean “holy ones,” as in “Hallowed be thy name.” “Eve” means the evening before.) So, Halloween means “the evening before All Holy Ones’ Day.” Today we call that festival Halloween (Hallow’s Eve) and we have many fun secular ways of recognizing it in addition to religious ways. However, it’s important to remember that its celebration has a long, positive history in the Church. 

What sort of history is that? Like many of the liturgical festivals (Christmas and Easter included), All Saints’ Day and All Hallow’s Eve have some connection to pagan festivals. People of many races and cultures have remembered their dead and have had superstitions about death itself. Christians remembered death itself on All Hallow’s Eve and celebrated Christ’s victory over death. During the Middle Ages, Christians would gather in Churches for worship and they would remember the saints’ victories over evil. Likewise they would put on little displays showing Jesus’ victory of Satan, often using unusual masks and costumes to act out the story. 

Thus, the festivities on All Hallow’s Eve were the Christian’s way of laughing at death and evil, something we can do in certain hope of Christ’s victory over the powers of darkness. The Church for centuries, however, has seen All Hallow’s Eve not as a glorification of evil, but as a chance to affirm eternal life in the face of the death of our mortal bodies. Just as Easter is a celebration of Jesus’ victory over death and evil, so is Halloween! 

1995 (with minor corrections and changes over the years) 

(in response to email castigating Halloween.biz for glorifying evil when it was doing anything but that! 🙂 )