Happy Halloween

It’s the end of October and that means only one thing to most children…Halloween is here!!!!  Halloween is one of the most anticipated holidays of the year.  Children get to dress up in costumes (some they have been dreaming about since last Halloween), go trick-or-treating, attend school and community parties, carve jack-o-lanterns and decorate with scary images of ghouls and witches.  Halloween is a time of celebration and superstition.  It is thought to have originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghouls.  Like many other holidays, Halloween has evolved and changed throughout history.  More than a thousand years ago, November 1^st was names All Saints Day, also called All Hallows.  The night before All Hallows was called Hallows Eve.  Later the name was changed to Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a secular, community based event characterized by child-friendly activities. 

The history of Halloween may have its roots in ancient religion and folklore but for today’s children, it’s all about the fun.  Halloween is no longer limited to just costumes and candy, the events and activities are often a highlight of the Fall season, and a time for families to be together.  There are farms and festivals on every corner, where you can pick pumpkins, go through corn mazes, take a hay ride, get spooked in a haunted house and buy endless amounts of decorations.  Halloween is the second largest commercial holiday, with people spending approximately $6.9 billion a year.  But regardless if you go all-out on store bought costumes, or get creative and make your own, Halloween does happen to be a wonderful time of year for children and adults alike.  We may not get dressed up in costumes as we get older, but we’re never too old to enjoy the season and sample the candy that has been collected.  Enjoy and be safe.  Happy Halloween!