The document summarizes the history and traditions of Halloween. It explains that Halloween originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, where people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as All Saints' Day and the night before became known as All Hallows' Eve, which later evolved into Halloween. Common Halloween symbols like costumes, jack-o-lanterns, and traditions like trick-or-treating are also described as evolving from Celtic traditions to honor the dead. Different cultures around the world, including Ireland, America, Mexico, and others, are noted to celebrate Halloween through traditions like bonfires, costumes, and honoring deceased

1. HALLOWEEN
The purpose, history, and traditions of this famous holiday.

2. Table Of Contents
3
4
5
6
7
halloween's original purpose
HOw it got it's name
common halloween Symbols
Halloween's Origin
8
Costumes
Samhain
9
Jack-o-Lanterns
10
11
The First Witch Trial
How Different Religions Celebrated Halloween
The History Of Trick-Or-Treating
13
Trick-Or-Treating In The U.S
14
How Does Our Community Celebrate Halloween
15
How do people around the world celebrate Halloween
12
The End 16

3. Origin
In the eighth century Pope Gregory III, designated November 1st as a
time to honor all saints. Soon, “All Saints Day” what the day was
referred to at the time, had some of the traditions of Samhain. And
the evening before November 1st was known as All Hallows Eve, and
then later it was referred to as Halloween.

4. Halloween's Original Purpose
The original purpose of halloween or Samhain as it was
known was to ward off ghosts and later was changed
to a day to worship saints. This happened in the eight
century and the guy that made it happen's name was
Pope Gregory III. Soon after that Saint day sort of
mixed with Samhain and the night before was called All
Hallows Eve which turned into halloween.

5. How It Got It's name
Halloween wasn’t always called Halloween, in fact it
was started with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.
In this festival people would light bonfires and were
costumes to scare off ghosts. In the 800’s, Pope
Gregory III made November 1 Saints day. Before Saints
day was Hallow’s eve which evolved into Halloween. The
traditions changed over time and turned into what we
know today as trick-or-treating.

6. Samhain
2,000 years ago the Celts, who were mostly in the area that is
now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, they
celebrated their new year on November 1st. This is because this
day marked the end of summer, the harvest and the beginning
of winter. This time of year was often associated with human
death. The Celts believed that on the night before the new year,
October 31st, the border between the world of the living and the
dead became blurred. This is when they celebrated Samhain.

7. Costumes
People would wear costumes on more than just halloween people
would wear costumes for almost every big holiday, such as
Valentines day, Easter, and New Years. Old costumes for Halloween
were focused on spooky themes rather than your favorite Disney
character or a M & M.

8. Common Halloween Symbols

9. Common Halloween Symbols
Soul Cakes - Cakes were made for wandering souls in early Britain and were usually a Christian tradition. In those times, people
believed in Purgatory (and may still do), and it was known that in order to get out of Purgatory, they must have people to
offer prayers. If they got enough prayers they go to Heaven.
So, soul cakes were handed out as a “prayer”. Over time children would go door to door for a soul cake, which would eventually
turn into what we know now as trick-or-treating.
Ghosts - Samhain and All Hallow’s Eve were both celebrations that celebrated the dead. It was believed that on this night, the veil
between the living and the dead thinned, allowing ghosts to roam around.
Black Cats - Witches were known to feed or have cats as pets, also referred to their ‘familiars’. They were even sometimes likely
to be killed with their owner in witch trials. One piece of folklore says that a father and son threw rocks at a black cat, who
ran into a supposed witch’s cottage. Later, they would see the same woman come out of her cottage limping.

10. Jack-o-lanterns
The Jack-o-Lantern legend first started with a man names Stingy Jack who came to America during the potato
famine. He was quite the trickster and fooled the devil into not taking his soul for 10 years, and then again
when he died. God didn’t want Jack in Heaven, so the devil sent him into darkness with a single coal, which he
then put in a turnip. Legend says he still roams this earth. Irish Children would put a piece of coal in a turnip to
pay tribute to Jack. Different creations of Jack’s lanterns would then be made all around the world, from turnips,
to beets, to potatoes. American Immigrants used Native pumpkins to use as their lanterns, for they were perfect
for the sake of tradition.

11. How Different Religions Celebrated Halloween
The way that different religions celebrated Halloween are pretty different. I will be looking at two pretty much
opposite religions, Paganism and Christianity. First, Paganism is a term first used in the fourth century by early
Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, Paganism has now strung off to some other
religions like Wicca, which is a form of witchcraft. Pagan’s celebrate Halloween by lighting a large bonfire in
communion with the dead, many modern Pagans play music and dance, and these are often called Witches Balls’
in proximity with Samhain. Christians took a whole different look at Halloween. Some say that it is not
appropriate to celebrate the holiday, because it is a dark, and satanic holiday. Others say that it is just light-
hearted fun, but it is pretty much still undecided and up to the person.

12. The First Witch Trial
For as long as I can remember, witches have been described with black scraggly hair, green
skin, warts, a long nose, and they rode brooms. This is simply not true. They are people
just like us, but what the public thought of them was far from tame. One of the first
recorded witches or witch hunts was in 1280 a woman named Dame Alice de Kyteler. She
lived in Ireland. Things that made the public suspicious of her was that she outlived 4
husbands, and other accusations like; Denying the Catholic faith, Witchcraft, Blasphemy,
Running a brothel, and Dismembering animals. In 1324 after Alice heard these accusations she
fled. And instead of trying to get her, they turned to her servent, who then confessed to
witchcraft and was burned at the stake. This witch hunt wasn't as big as the infamous
Salem witch trials to come, but it was a start of a very tough road for witches.

13. The History Of Trick-Or-Treating
Trick-or-treating, as we know today, is where you go door to door in your costumes to get candy from your
neighbors on Halloween night. But how did it start?
During Samhain, people would dress up in scary costumes to scare away unwanted spirits and leave plates of
food to keep them at bay. Later in time people would start dressing up as spirits and demons and perform a
trick in exchange for food, therefore tricking for a treat.
In the ninth century, poor folk would visit wealthier homes and receive soul cakes in exchange for their prayers
for the homeowners’ deceased loved ones. In Ireland and Scotland, children in costumes would sing a song or
recite a poem instead to get their treat.

14. Trick-or-treating in the US
As people immigrated to America during the potato famine, they brought their traditions. This helped popularize
the holiday, especially with rowdy children.
During the Great Depression, these tricks got way out of hand. Vandalism and acts of violence spiked. But when
World War I hit, there was a sugar shortage so this ruckus didn’t last long. A few years after that, candy
companies targeted their product toward the holiday and it soon became a western tradition.

15. How Does Our Community Celebrate Halloween?
“Turn off all the lights, get some snacks, and watch scary movies”
“We do it backwards in my neighborhood. The person going door to door hands out candy”
“I pass out candy before and after going trick-or-treating”
“My family makes stuffed shells and makes a plate for the loved ones we have lost”
“Me and my friends go to haunted houses and corn mazes and then go home and watch scary movies”
“We carve pumpkins while watching horror movies”

16. Halloween Traditions Around The World
Belgium - One of the traditional activities in Belgium is to light candles in memory of lost loved ones. They have a strong belief in the black cat
superstition, especially if it enters a house, establishment, or ship.
France - Although Halloween is not a traditional holiday and clashes with La Toussaint, or All Saints Day, they do enjoy having parties and dressing up.
China - China also does not directly celebrate Halloween. Instead they celebrate Teng Chieh, which is the Feast of the Hungry Ghosts. Food and water
are placed in front of photographs. They also light candles and have bonfires to let the dead roam around.
Ireland - Traditional Samhain, Ireland celebrates Halloween by carving turnips and putting a light in them to drive away Stingy Jack's spirit. They also
have bonfires, a Celtic tradition.
America - In America, children and adults dress up to go trick-or-treating, or to themed parties, then finish the night by carving pumpkins and
watching horror films.
Mexico - Mexico celebrates Day of the Dead on Nov. 2nd to honor their deceased family members. They construct alters and decorate with photos,
flowers, and food.

17. The End