When is Halloween? Date, celebrations, history, costumes, and true meaning

Halloween, the spokiest festival of the year, is being celebrated across the world today. It is the day before All Saints Day in the Christian calendar, which dates back centuries. Halloween is an abbreviation for All Hallows' Eve or All Saints' Eve. So the holiday is meant to inspire imitation, not of villains, goons, and goblins, but of heroic virtue and service.

The Catholic Church, from which the festival derives, has a rigorous process for selecting saints, which includes ultimate approval by the Pope. The Protestant heritage is far less organised. The saints are recognized by broad acknowledgement of the long-term effects of their lives.
Halloween is a significant festival in the US and other parts of the world and the most important commercial holiday apart from Christmas. Interestingly, one full quarter of all the candy sold annually is bought for Halloween across the US.

The History Of Halloween

The ancient Celtic holiday of 'Samhain' inspired the tradition of lighting bonfires and warding off ghosts. Initially, the ceremony commemorated the Celtic New Year.

Celts thought that the night before the New Year was blurred, and the spirits of the dead returned to earth.

In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III declared November 1 to be All Saints Day or All Hallow’s Day. But eventually, it was deduced to be October 31.

The Origin of Halloween Customs

The Druids ((pagan religious leaders) used to ignite bonfires to commemorate the occasion of Samhain, where the community blazed animals and crops as sacrifices to Celtic deities.



The Celts dressed in animal heads and skins and sought to tell one another’s fortunes during the event. After the festivities, everyone returned home and re-lit their holy bonfire hearth fires to help safeguard them over the approaching winter.

The original festivities featured people gathering to exchange stories about the deceased, tell fortunes, dance, and sing. Then came the 'trick-or-treat' tradition. Halloween has lost most of its superstitious and religious implications. It’s all about partying now.

FAQs:

1. What are the most popular Halloween costumes for pets?
   Americans don’t simply buy costumes for themselves and their children, but also their dogs. Pumpkins, cats, hot dogs, superheroes, and bumblebees are popular pet costumes.
2. Where did the word 'Halloween' come from?
   The word 'Hallow' stemmed from the Old English word for 'holy' or 'sanctified' and was reduced to 'Hallowe'en' through time.