Halloween Historical Background
The tradition of Halloween parties return each October 31st. Nowadays those who enjoy the parties the most are the children. Halloween is an chance to dress up in fancy dress and call on the neighbors trick or treating. Some families go out of their way to decorate their home and front yard in a ghostly and creepie Halloween theme.
Halloween is a traditional Celtic festival, and has survived through the ages most strongly in the Celtic communities in Ireland, Scotland and Wales. From there, with emigration, Halloween has spread around the world, most notably to America. In recent years, the spread of popular American culture has introduced a further expansion of interest in Halloween to fresh places, such as Asia and Western Europe.
The first Celtic customs were pagan festivals linked to the seasonal changes with the onset of winter. The ancients saw it as a time when the living could contact the dead, and magic things could happen. The early Christian church, as with many pagan festivals, absorbed these customs into the Christian calendar. All Saints Day, also known as All Hallows Day, was assigned to November 1st. All Hallows Evening, the night of October 31st, became known as Hallow E’en, later just Halloween, and the time for the ancient celebrations.
Halloween parties were a community event, and there was usually a bonfire and fun games. The apple harvest was in at that time, and games such as trying to eat an apple on a string or floating in a bucket of water with your hands behind your back, were customary. Children would go from door to door to gather fruit, nuts and other tidbits for the festivities, which was the origin of the “treating” visits of today. Mostly, particularly in Scotland, the kids would sing or put on a short act in return for the treats they were given. These days the treats given are often candies and sweets, and occasionally money.
Early on, Halloween “tricks” were secretive and often clever pranks played on some adults by kids. The mischievous spirits that were said to be abroad on Halloween were blamed. This activity was especially popular in Ireland. A long time ago, tricks and treating combined into an ultimatum: give a treat or become the victim of a trick. This undesirable habit led to such unpleasantness as tossing eggs at houses and soaping windows, and more serious vandalism. Nowadays such unruly behavior is not often seen.
Halloween party venues are often decorated with a haunted home theme. To the pleasure of children, Halloween menu items often include tomato soup described as vampire soup, spaghetti renamed as cemetery worms, and the always popular long cookies tipped with sliced almonds and described as witches’ fingers. Pumpkins are made into carved jack-o-lanterns, and the pumpkin flesh used for pumpkin dishes, such as the pumpkin pie that’s traditionally a feature of Halloween menus.
For the last few years, the magic and wizards themes of the popular Harry Potter books have added fresh ideas to Halloween fancy dress and decorations for children’s Halloween parties.
Halloween costume parties have also become popular events for adults as well in current years. They’re a great excuse to dress up and have fun. It seems the trend this day is for any costume to be acceptable, not necessarily just the traditional witches, vampires and ghosts of Halloween. Costume design inspirations are now drawn from many sources, such as current movies and television series. Some costumes are just witty, such as the seasonally appropriate theme of a “leaf blower”, consisting just of a leaf suspended from the brim of a cap where it can be blown.