Origins of Halloween: If You've Got It, HAUNT It

By Katerina Barkhausen, Senior

   Halloween, a night of tricks and treats, has roots that go beyond candy and horror. Halloween began as the ancient Celtic religious festival of Samhain. The Celts believed that the barrier between our world and the world of the spirits and goblins became thin after the summer. This meant that the weird ghosts and ghouls could wander into our world with their spooky, magical powers. Therefore, the Celts would throw a huge festival in order to scare away the spirits. As time passed, the Christian religion adopted the day to be All Hallows’ Eve, the day before All Saints’ Day. Now, in the United States, the holiday has risen and become immensely popular. Traditions like pumpkin carving and trick or treating came into our culture in the 20th century. Jack-o'-lanterns became the symbol of Halloween but people in Ireland and Scotland originally used beets or turnips as lanterns on Halloween. According to Karin Lehnardt, senior writer for Fact Retriever, here are some Halloween facts for the spooky skeleton in you:
★Samhainophobia is the fear of Halloween. 
★In 2014, U.S. citizens spent $2.8 billion on Halloween costumes.
★The costume for kids this Halloween in 2016 is any action hero or superhero, while adults are more likely to dress as a Batman comics character.
★Halloween falls on a Monday in 2016, so the spookiest thing you may see is the homework due the next day.
 
Works Cited:
History.com Staff. "History of Halloween." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. 20 Oct. 2016. Web.