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