It’s almost Halloween and we’re ready to help you get into the spooky spirit this season. Halloween is a fun-filled night of the year with spooky costumes, scary stories, and lots of candy that is loved by all kids and adults irrespective of their age. It’s everyone’s favourite October holiday – that time of the year when you decorate your home with jack-o’-lanterns and scary spiders, and dress up in spooky costumes.
What is Halloween?
The origins of Halloween date back to 2,000 years ago. The ancient Celts were the first to celebrate Halloween. They resided in what is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, and celebrated the Samhain celebration on October 31.
To honour the dead, the Catholic Church declared November 2 as All Souls’ Day over 1,000 years ago. Samhain, which fell on November 1, was renamed All Saints’ Day. All Hallows’ Eve is another name for Halloween. The night before, October 31, became known as All Hallows’ Eve. That was later shortened to Halloween.
Trick-or-treating has been around since Mediaeval Times
Taking candy from strangers on one night a year (and only one night) is not new nor uniquely American. It was called ‘guising’ back then in Scotland and Ireland. The best aspect of Halloween, free candy, began with Samhain. People would lay food out for any spirits who might come out that night.
By the 1800s, children in England started dressing up in costumes. They’d also sing and dance for candy and cents. When Halloween first became popular in North America in the early 1900s, children were not required to perform. However, saying ‘trick or treat’ reminded people to hand out candy.
Halloween today
Halloween is now more popular in North America than in the rest of the world, and it’s grown in popularity in the United Kingdom, where it all began.
Most people associate Halloween with dressing up and decorating their homes and classrooms. Some children walk door-to-door in their areas to collect candy. Others celebrate in school or at social gatherings.
Halloween celebrations in Sri Lanka
This year, Halloween falls on a Tuesday. There are numerous Halloween nights out in Sri Lanka, with activities ranging from the traditional apple-bobbing Halloween games to full-on dance-till-you-drop, fancy dress Halloween parties. Restaurants and hotels may also feature exclusive Halloween-inspired dishes on their menus to add a Halloween flavour.
Many shopping complexes and stores will cater to people looking for accessories to invent that perfect look of disguise. Halloween party photo booths and prizes for the scariest outfits are the best motivation to create a creepy costume. Horror movies are shown during these events to create a spooky vibe for the crowds.
“When the moon awakens and the black cats are seen, may luck be yours this Halloween!”