Halloween facts

Halloween is coming on the 31st of October.

Here is a few interesting facts about Halloween.

1. What is Halloween?

• Halloween is a holiday celebrated annually on 31 October.
• It is the evening just before the two Christian holy days called the All Hallows’ Day:
  • All Saints’ or Hallowmas on 1 November
  • All Souls’ Day on 2 November
• Halloween is like a community based festival and is mostly celebrated in Western countries.
• Kids and adults wear different costumes of their choice and attend costume parties.

2. Why is Halloween called Halloween?

• As it is the evening before the All Hallows’ Day, it was called All Hallows’ Eve. Later on with time it changed into Halloween.

• Halloween Day is celeberated on 31 October every year.

3. What does Halloween Celebrate?

• There are two historical things for which the Halloween is celebrated:
  • Samhain (Summer’s End) the end of harvest season
  • All Hallows’ Days – the two Christian holidays.

4. Who Invented Halloween – Where did Halloween Originate?

• Halloween is traced back to a 2000 years old Celtic festival called Samhain (pronounced as SAH-wen) which was celebrated at the end of the summer harvest.
• So the people who invented Halloween are the ancient Celts who lived in Northern Europe most probably in the countries of Britain, France, and Ireland.

5. What is the connection to trick or treat?

• Trick or treat history is usually connected to the old custom of souling.
• In souling, the poor will go from house to house to beg for soul cakes. In return of the soul cakes the beggars would pray for those member of the family who were recently died.
• Soul cakes were round in shape and were made from bread with currants.