| Halloween or Holloween is a holiday celebrated on | | | | thought as evil and hence people started wearing |
| the night of October 31 in most countries. Irish | | | | scary costumes with animal heads to frighten the |
| immigrants carried versions of the Halloween | | | | spirits. They protected themselves in this way. |
| tradition to North America in the nineteenth | | | | Samhain is also known as Celtic New Year. |
| century. Other coutries followed suit in the | | | | November 1st is known as All Saints Day or by |
| twentieth century. It is generally thought that the | | | | the other name - All Hallow's Day. Hallow refers to |
| holiday originated from a Irish holiday known as | | | | sainted ones. All Saint's Day is there to celebrate |
| Samhain, which was celebrated in Ireland and | | | | the saints and martyrs of Christian faith. This day |
| Scotland during harvest time for many many | | | | was celebrated to diminish the importance of the |
| years. The time of year when harvesting was | | | | Celtic rituals and the influence of the druids. Hence |
| completed and animals were brought from | | | | the day - 31st october - became known as All |
| summer pastures to shelter for the winter | | | | Hallow's Eve, or Halloween. The carved pumpkin lit |
| months was known as Samhain. Fruits, | | | | by a candle inside, is one of the most prominent |
| vegetables, grain, and animals, were burnt as gifts | | | | symbols in America for Halloween. It is commonly |
| to the Gods in big bonfires during Samhain. This | | | | called a jack-o-lantern. |
| was done in the hope of a successful new year. | | | | Common Halloween activities include watching |
| The general belief was that on the Samhain night, | | | | horror movies, visiting haunted houses, |
| dead people could appear on earth and the alive | | | | trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins, wearing |
| people were able to question the dead about the | | | | costumes, lighting bonfires, costume parties, |
| upcoming year. Some of these spirits were | | | | reading scary stories and similar activities. |