Halloween on the Net - Dressing Up & Trick-or-Treating on Halloween

Dressing Up & Trick-or-Treating
on Halloween

While modern-day Halloween is not a pagan holiday, the traditions of this October 31st holiday are most definitely rooted in the ancient Celtic holiday of Samhain. Wearing costumes, for example, dates back to the Celtic tradition of dressing up in animal costumes to mark the end of summer and the coming of winter.

The custom of wearing costumes was later adopted by Christians in their celebration of All Souls Day (November 2nd). Rather than dressing like animals, however, Church-goers wore costumes of saints, angels, devils and fairies as a nod to the hallowed spirits honored on All Souls Day.

The popular custom of trick-or-treating also has its roots in Celtic tradition. During the Celtic period, the November 1st holiday of Samhain was considered a time to honor the dead. The souls of those who had died in the past year transitioned on Samhain from this world to the spirit world. To aid their deceased ancestors on their journey, the Celtic people would leave out food for the spirits to eat before their long journey.

Over the centuries, Samhain revelers began the custom of dressing up as spirits and performing antics in exchange for food - a tradition that came to be known as mumming, the custom that inspired trick-or-treating as we know it today.

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Comments

lolyfied from Afghanistan

03:03 10/26/2011

DIN MOR

Makenna from Oregon, US

14:29 10/25/2011

I am a wiccan, and I just might i say, so called "witches" are not evil. They were judged very poorly, they should mention that. Cats are a physical representation of the goddess, a protector. =)

Leggokatz from Nevada, US

19:11 10/07/2011

Just want to say it's important if you own a black cat to be extremely cautious around Halloween, there are still crazy people out there who do awful things to them... Be safe and please keep your real life Halloween kitties indoors!!

Angel White from Alabama, US

09:41 10/29/2010

taylor: come on, really? you say you celabrate it, then why are you complaining about it. that's retarded. Are you like four?

taylor from New York, US

15:34 10/27/2010

well i dont think it is the greatest part of year im a christan and it is satins b-day so ya i celabrate it but its still satins b-day

stine from Denmark

04:40 10/27/2010

i love halloween the best time of the year im gonna be the grim reaper its the coolest costume ever i love halloween 4-ever:):):):):):) :D

crystal from New York, US

18:18 10/25/2010

i hat halloween lol

sharon from Florida, US

17:05 10/12/2010

i have a BLACK CAT so beware of her!!!!!!!!

Rochell from Idaho, US

20:08 04/13/2010

Actually, my research has led me to believe that cats do have ties to the ancient Celts. In Celtic mythology, Cats were sacred to the gods and thought to be doorways to the Underworld.

Alicia Elwell from Maine, US

13:12 04/01/2010

i love halloween it is fun to scare people and give them chills like the tv channel chiller lol

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Dressing Up & Trick-or-Treatingon Halloween

Dressing Up & Trick-or-Treating
on Halloween