This is how I like to look at Halloween...fun and cute. Nothing scary about this picture!
Or how about this silly boy...not scary at all, but he is having a great time and he came up with the costume on his own, as he did EVERY year!
My daughter asked me what Halloween was all about. We went back to the Celtic origins and talked about those beliefs. She finally just said, "Na, it's just about the candy!"
This is what I found about Halloween...
Halloween is on October 31st, the last day of the Celtic calendar. It was originally a pagan holiday, honoring the dead. Halloween was referred to as All Hallows Eve and dates back to over 2000 years ago.
All Hallows Eve is the evening before All Saints Day, which was created by Christians to convert pagans, and is celebrated on November 1st. The Catholic church honored saints on this designated day.
Some fun and interesting facts....
Orange and black are Halloween colors because orange is associated with the Fall harvest and black is associated with darkness and death.
Jack o’ Lanterns originated in Ireland where people placed candles in hollowed-out turnips to keep away spirits and ghosts on the Samhain holiday.
Pumpkins also come in white, blue and green. Great for unique monster carvings!
Halloween was brought to North America by immigrants from Europe who would celebrate the harvest around a bonfire, share ghost stories, sing, dance and tell fortunes.
Tootsie Rolls were the first wrapped penny candy in America.
The ancient Celts thought that spirits and ghosts roamed the countryside on Halloween night. They began wearing masks and costumes to avoid being recognized as human.
Halloween candy sales average about 2 billion dollars annually in the United States.
Chocolate candy bars top the list as the most popular candy for trick-or-treaters with Snickers #1.
Halloween is the 2nd most commercially successful holiday, with Christmas being the first.
Bobbing for apples is thought to have originated from the roman harvest festival that honors Pamona, the goddess of fruit trees.
If you wonder what your favorite candy says about you, read my recent post....
Or how about a little fun with BATS!
Personally, I prefer to stay away from the dark side of Halloween and make it a fun time. Have a safe and Happy Halloween...enjoy those little ones!
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