Halloween has been called a uniquely American holiday because our celebration is a blending of cultures. The early Celtics hid themselves in ghoulish costumes so they wouldn't be bothered by the evil spirits They didn't want to look human. After Christianity was introduced, the next day was the day to pray for the dead so it became known as the Eve of All Hallows and more easily associated with the dark side.
Spooky and other worldly describes the atmosphere around the holiday. Halloween became the most popular around 1920 and continues today. Costumes also included nice ones in addition to the spooky. Last year, the most popular costumes for kids were Spiderman for boys and princesses for giirls.
Trick or Treating for UNICEF started in 1950 at a school in Pennsylvania and is now a national cause that has raised $160million dollars to help the world's children. Among other things, it provides wells for drinking water and medicine.
The Jack 0-Lantern started as a medieval Irish tradition of carving out turnips and lighting them with a candle.These were placed on gateposts to ward off the evil spirits. Irish immigrants in America began using the more easily carnved native pumpkins, as we do today. Our Jack-o-Lanterns are more an invite to knock on our door for treats, than a scary item.
In the early part of the century, tricking was rampant if you had nothing to give out. Candy became the wanted item, especially when manufacturers began making wrapped candies. The association with violence and horror got a boost with movies that used Halloween as a backdrop. This is a modern version of evil. Americans spend between 5 and 7 billion dollars on the holiday, and it is not just for kids anymore. Halloween can be fun for everyone.
