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Halloween 2017: Date, History and How it is celebrated

Halloween 2017: Date, History and How it is celebrated

Halloween is also known as Hallowe’en, Allhalloween, All Hallows’ Eveor All Saints’ Eve and 31 October is celebrated as Halloween day in a number of countries. It is held the day before All Saints’ Day. Halloween activities typically include dressing up in fancy dress and parties. The meaning of Halloween or Hallowe’en is Hallowed evening or Holy evening. It is extensively believed that traditions of Halloween came from Celtic harvest festivals of Samhain, although some people think that Halloween began independently as a Christian festival. People like to wear costumes of ghosts and light bonfires on Halloween.

History of Halloween

Halloween’s origins from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. Countries including Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France celebrated their new year on November 1. Samhain festival is marked for the end of summer and the beginning of cold dark winter which is often associated with the human death. October 31 night also referred as Samhain night before the new year(1 November) is celebrated in many countries as Halloween.

Roman Empire had conquered the majority of Celtic territory by 43 AD. Roman Empire ruled on Celtic lands for 400 years at that time they combine two Roman festivals with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain. From which first was Feralia, a day in a month of October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead, and second was a Pomona, which is the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple and in Samhain Celebration Bobbing for apples which now included in Halloween.

How Halloween is celebrated

Halloween is celebrated in numerous ways which include:

  • Dressing up in fancy dress and costume
  • Fancy dress competition
  • Fancy dress parties
  • Playing prank
  • Playing apple bobbing
  • Figurine pumpkins
  • Going trick or treating
  • Giving sweet treats
  • Enjoying horror films
  • Telling scary stories
  • Visiting haunted places
  • Going church
  • Attending church services

About the author

Shilpi Gupta

Food Technologist by Profession and Blogger by Destiny. love to write articles on food technology, spirituality and social issues.