Description Of The Word
"Halloween"
Function: noun
Etymology: short for All Hallow Even (All Saints' Eve)
: October 31 observed especially with dressing up in disguise,
trick-or-treating, and displaying jack-o'-lanterns during the evening
A Brief History Of Halloween
The word itself, "Halloween," actually has its origins in the
Catholic Church. It comes from a contracted corruption of All Hallows
Eve. November 1, "All Hollows Day" (or "All Saints
Day"), is a Catholic day of observance in honor of saints. But, in
the 5th century BC, in Celtic Ireland, summer officially ended on
October 31. The holiday was called Samhain (sow-en), the Celtic New
year.
One story says that, on that day, the disembodied
spirits of all those who had died throughout the preceding year would
come back in search of living bodies to possess for the next year. It
was believed to be their only hope for the afterlife. The Celts believed
all laws of space and time were suspended during this time, allowing the
spirit world to intermingle with the living.
Naturally, the still-living did not want to be
possessed. So on the night of October 31, villagers would extinguish the
fires in their homes, to make them cold and undesirable. They would then
dress up in all manner of ghoulish costumes and noisily paraded around
the neighborhood, being as destructive as possible in order to frighten
away spirits looking for bodies to possess.
Popular Halloween Ideas
Here's a list of popular Halloween ideas to scare up some fun
this Halloween!
 | Hollow out mini pumpkins and use as
votive candle holders. |
| Use clear food handlers plastic gloves
to freeze ice hands to throw in the punch bowl. |
| Add some spider web to your party
decorations and haunt, buy them at any novelty shop. |
| Use mini ears of Indian corn, mini
pumpkins and gourds to embellish your Halloween party table. |
| You can make your own pumpkin carving
stencils from clip art and your printer. Find something simple that
you like, make a negative of it and print it out! |
| Tie or sew glow-sticks to your child's
costume so they can be seen more easily in the dark. |
| Instruct your children not to eat any
treats until they bring them home to be examined by you |
