| Halloween was originally a pagan holiday celebrated | | | | On the other hand, Belgian people do not open |
| by Celtic people and born from the pagan holiday | | | | their doors to unknown persons - including children |
| "Samhain". | | | | - and we are not welcomed to ask for candies. |
| Samhain is a holiday that celebrates the dark | | | | By the way, many children are fighting in the |
| season of the Celtic year. Gallic people also | | | | streets to steal candy from others. |
| celebrated this holiday; which was called | | | | French people think that this holiday is too |
| "Samonios". Samonios has been replaced in Gallic | | | | commercial and while this country finally adopted |
| countries by Christian celebrations. | | | | Halloween in the late 1990s, it is now less |
| Samhain was celebrated three days before and | | | | appreciated. There are very few children ringing |
| three days after November 1st and the origin of | | | | at the doors and asking for sweets. |
| there was no carved pumpkin nor trick or | | | | English people celebrate the Guy Fawkes Day on |
| treating. People had a lantern made out of a | | | | November 5th and adopted many customs from |
| turnip. The celebration was strictly observed by | | | | Samhain. These festivities are marked by |
| the whole society and gave the opportunity to | | | | torchlight parades where children use masks |
| every barbarian to eat, drink and have fun. | | | | made from beets and pumpkins. |
| Over the centuries, continental Europe converted | | | | Scottish people practice their ancient pagan rites. |
| to Christianity and abandoned Samonios in favour | | | | Children wear costumes and cut scary faces into |
| of All Saints Day and Samhain became All Hallow's | | | | large rutabagas and place a candle inside them. |
| Eve. | | | | They receive candy when they provide a nice |
| However, the Halloween that we currently | | | | entertainment to their neighbours. |
| celebrate has nothing in common with Samhain. | | | | Trick or treating originated in Ireland, so as usual, |
| Halloween and All Saints Day are still interrelated | | | | Irish children in disguise will enjoy the Halloween |
| because Halloween means "The Night Before the | | | | festivities, they will carry lanterns cut into large |
| Feast of All Saints" and "All Hallow's Day" is our | | | | rutabagas. Children will be received by their |
| Continental All Saints Day. | | | | neighbours with sweets and Irish houses will be |
| All Hallow's Eve; which evolved during the | | | | decorated with Halloween lights. |
| Christianization of European populations, was | | | | Spanish people enjoy each kind of holidays and |
| imported in America by European colonists and | | | | parties. Their kids will then enjoy receiving candies |
| the current Halloween holiday was created by the | | | | from their neighbours and adults will have the |
| Irish emigrants. | | | | opportunity to have a Halloween party in each |
| In Belgium, two villages still celebrate Samonios | | | | and every club. Spanish people also organize many |
| (Samhain), born from All Saints Day, Grindin and | | | | Halloween parades. |
| Saint Gregory holidays. One of these villages is | | | | Portugal does not celebrate Halloween; Portuguese |
| Gouy-Lez-Pieton. A friend of mine lives in Gouy | | | | people celebrate the Day of the Dead by |
| and when I talk about Halloween, she says: "We | | | | organizing feasts at the cemetery. |
| did not replace Saint Nicholas holiday by Christmas | | | | Some regions of Italy organize Halloween Events |
| so, we will not replace our All Saints Day and our | | | | and it seems that the Italian children enjoy this |
| Day Of The Dead by Halloween!" However, she | | | | holiday. |
| agreed to organize a Halloween party with me | | | | Other European cities and clubs organize |
| next year. | | | | commercial events for Halloween (mainly for |
| Here are some countries which celebrate | | | | tourists), newspapers publish articles dedicated to |
| Halloween: | | | | Halloween, but I am unsure that people really |
| If some continental European countries adopted | | | | practice Halloween. There are very few |
| Halloween, this has not been without difficulty. | | | | information about Halloween festivities in Europe; |
| Indeed, we consider this celebration being too | | | | especially Central and eastern Europe. They stick |
| "American Marketing" style. European people give | | | | to their own All Saints Day and Day Of The Dead. |
| more value to their culture and traditions than to | | | | Australia and New Zealand begin to enjoy |
| commercial events. | | | | Halloween. |
| Belgian people celebrate Halloween since more | | | | USA, Canada, and Quebec: Halloween is very |
| than ten years but Gouy-Lez-Pieton refuses to | | | | much appreciated and I think that only some |
| adopt it, preferring to celebrate their own | | | | worldwide disaster should prevent these people to |
| Samhain-style holiday. Even if Belgian people | | | | celebrate Halloween. |
| organize a Day Before Christmas dinner, they still | | | | Since some years, there is a growing interest on |
| offer gifts to children on December 6th and not | | | | the part of the Chinese population for western |
| on December 25th. So, I doubt that my country | | | | events: Chinese people enjoy Halloween parties. |
| will replace All Saints Day by Halloween. | | | | |