Halloween is a day to celebrate October 31 every year, and this year it occurs on Sunday. On this day, many children go to play trick-or-treat games. They dress up as ghosts, witches, skeletons, or other characters and visit their neighbors’ houses. They ring the doorbell and shout ‘trick-or-treat’ if someone answers. if they do not get treat, They will return and they play a trick. In general, they receive a treat and do not trick. Where did this cultural event come from?

According to Halloween: Origins, Meaning & Traditions – HISTORY, the origin of Halloween dates back about 2,000 years ago to Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival. They celebrated the New Year on November 1, and they believed that on New Year’s Eve, the boundaries between the living and the dead were blurred and their souls returned to Earth. In order to expel the soul, they set up a huge bonfire and wore costumes consisting of animal skins and heads to support animals and grains to the gods.

In the 7th century, the Catholic Church designated November 1st as a day to commemorate all saints in the church. By the 9th century, Christian influence had spread to Celtic lands, where it was gradually replaced by mixing with old Celtic rituals. In 1000 A.D., the church designated November 2 as All Souls Day and designated it as a day to honor the dead.

In the 7th century, the Catholic Church designated November 1st as a day to commemorate all saints in the church. By the 9th century, Christian influence had spread to Celtic lands, where it was gradually replaced by mixing with old Celtic rituals. In the 7th century, the Catholic Church designated November 1st as Adult Day. It is a day to celebrate all adults. In the 9th century, Christianity influenced the Celtic people and mixed them with the old Celtic culture. In 1000 AD, Catholicism designated November 2 as Soul Day, a day to honor the dead.

Over the centuries, all adult days, all soul days, and three holidays, Samhain, have been integrated into Halloween, which is what we now call ‘Halloween.’

Then, what’s the beginning of Treat or Trick? In England and Ireland, on Adult Day and Soul Day, the poor visited the homes of the rich and promised to pray for the deceased relatives of the owner of the house, and in return received a pastry called soul cake. This culture later changed to children visiting each house and asking for gifts such as food and money. In the early United States, few Halloween festivals were found. It was not until the mid-19th century that immigrants, especially those who immigrated from Ireland, influenced and began to popularize this culture.

ELL teacher, Brian Hunter described his feelings about Halloween. “I like Halloween because my kids liked Halloween when they were young and they liked dressing up and decorating the house.” He added that the feeling of Halloween has changed because of Covid-19. ”Before, it was exciting and I liked to give out candy, but now we told we can’t. So, I feel bad because I like Halloween. I feel like I shouldn’t be celebrating it right now.”

Sources:

Halloween: Origins, Meaning & Traditions – HISTORY

https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/canada/halloween

The Fascinating History of Halloween – Where Did Halloween Come From? (goodhousekeeping.com)