31 Oct HAPPY HALLOWEEN! – OCTOBER 31, 2022

HALLOWEEN TIMELINE

800s

The Church designates All Souls Day

As Christianity continued to merge with Celtic traditions, historians believe that All Souls Day was an effort by the early church to sanction a holiday that honors the dead without totally doing away with the Celtic New Year on November 1. 1500s

“Guising” is the ancient grandparent to “trick or treat”

In Scotland and Ireland, young people would go door to door in their communities, reciting poetry, singing, telling jokes or even doing tricks to get free food and gifts as part of the day to honor the dead.

May, 1693

Which witch is which in Salem?

The infamous Salem Witch trials’ officials falsely accused, then tortured and killed 19 girls, women and men.

Late 1800s

American Halloween is less religious, more secular

Halloween de-emphasizes ghosts and goblins and replaces them with community gatherings, games, food and fun when newspaper editors and community leaders ask parents to refrain from celebrating anything scary for Halloween.

1920

Kids declare “Trick or Treat” launching a new Halloween tradition

Although the custom of going from door to door asking for treats dates back to the Middle Ages, American youngsters put a new spin on it with “Trick or Treat.”

 

Modern Day Halloween

By the 1950s Halloween became a holiday that was primarily for the children. Trick-or-treating was commonplace as kids went around their neighborhoods in costume collecting candy. Halloween became increasingly embedded in popular culture and horror movies would often be released to coincide with the holiday. Movies such as “Nightmare on Elm Street,” “Halloween,” and “Friday the 13th” have all become classics associated with the holiday.

Halloween is now America’s second-largest commercial holiday, with $6 billion being spent on it each year. Numerous traditions such as trick-or-treating, costume parties, and watching horror movies all contribute towards a huge occasion that is celebrated throughout the country.

Halloween plays off our phobias. Killer clowns and antique dolls creep you out? Bats and spiders make your skin crawl? Does the sight of blood make you faint? Don’t go into that room and don’t go out on Halloween. But if you do — look over your shoulder! On Halloween, be a kid again or take on a new persona. Watch out for ghosts and goblins and things that go, “bump” in the night. Eat as much candy as your tummy can hold. Enjoy feeling totally scared for just. one. night. Happy Halloween, everybody!