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Plenty of Halloween traditions, such as trick or treating and pumpkin carving, will be back with full force on 31st October. While it can be lots of fun taking part in the spook-tacular activities, how many people really know the meaning behind Halloween?
History of Halloween
The origins of Halloween are believed to date back to the 10th century, when the seasonal festival, Samhain, in Gaelic Ireland, marked the beginning of winter. According to Irish mythology, it was a time when the doorway to the Otherworld was open, enabling the souls of the dead to come back and walk the earth again.
Some of the traditions of Samhain became linked with the Christian festival, All Saints Day, over the years. All Saints Day is held annually on 1st November, so the evening of 31st October became known as All Hallows Eve. This became Halloween in modern times.
Today, it is traditionally a time for children's fun activities, rather than its original serious meaning. Going door-to-door and collecting sweets and holding party gatherings are the main entertainment after dark on 31st October.
Why did trick or treating begin?
The practice of trick or treating began in the 19th century as part of the All Saints' Day festival. It wasn't known as "Trick or Treat" until the 1930s, when the name was born in the United States. In the UK, it was known as "Mischief Night" in the early 20th century.
The original idea, back in the 1800s, was for children and adults to dress up as saints and sing songs, or recite verses, door-to-door. Children would ask for "soul cakes", which were a sweet treat, like biscuits. During the 20th century, the practice of "trick or treating" took over the All Saints' Day celebration.
Why do we carve Halloween pumpkins?
You might be surprised to learn carving pumpkins isn't an American import - its origins are well and truly British! In centuries gone by, ghoulish faces would be carved into turnips and a candle would be placed inside to turn them into lanterns.
There would be a lot of turnips around in October, after the harvest, so it was a tradition many people could enjoy. The glowing turnips were known as "Jack o'Lanterns" or "punkies" and were lit to resemble the ghostly lights sometimes seen in marshes and bogs that were associated with the spirits of the dead.
Over the years, pumpkins became the traditional vegetable for kids to turn into Halloween lanterns. They were carried to light the children's way on Mischief Night when they went knocking on doors.
Tips for throwing a party
Throwing a successful Halloween party isn't something that can be organised overnight. Let's take a look at what makes a great Halloween party, for both adults and children.
First, the timing needs to be right, so consider when most people will be able to come. Trick or treating usually starts soon after dark on Halloween due to the number of young children taking part. Once they have collected all their sweets, it's a great time to go to a party.
It may help to have a checklist if the party is at your home, so you don't forget anything. The house should be decorated in a suitably spooky way: cobwebs, skulls, ghosts and ghouls, carved pumpkins with candles inside and even life-size battery-powered witch figurines will all add to the atmosphere.
Sort out the kids' costumes in advance: these days, every supermarket and discount store has plenty of choices for children of all ages and for adults too, at very reasonable prices.
Have some CDs of spooky music playing: a popular one is Monster Mash, of course, but songs from the Rocky Horror Show always go down well too. Do a Google search for "Halloween songs" and this will give you plenty of ideas.
Organise some party games for the kids: traditional ones, such as musical chairs and pass the parcel, are always great fun for younger children. Timeless games, with Halloween-themed prizes, will keep everyone out of mischief!
Halloween food
Halloween food is important to help capture the mood. Prepare some great creepy food for all the little monsters coming to party the night away. There are some really simple recipes for yukky-looking food that is actually very tasty!
Try some Icky Intestines Bread: fill puff pastry with cream cheese, roll and twist it to look like intestines and then add lashings of raspberry sauce for a sweet treat.
Eyeball Brownies are another favourite. Bake traditional chocolate brownies into circular shapes and then add a swirl of strawberry jam and lychee to the top of each to make a stomach-churning eyeball.
Baking the party food can be an activity to keep the kids entertained during half-term, as you prepare for your Halloween party – it will certainly give you one less thing to worry about on the night! When you prepare the food in advance, use the appropriate food storage containers to keep everything fresh in the fridge or freezer.
Make some simple non-alcoholic spooky punch so the kids can enjoy it too. Sweet "eyeball punch" can be made by mixing cherry juice, fresh orange juice and sparkling water in a punch bowl. Make the "eyeballs" by using canned lychees and stuffing a blackberry in each one. Let them bob around in a bowl, before serving over ice.
For adults who fancy an alcoholic drink, a Bloody Mary is a great Halloween drink! Keep the alcoholic drinks stored somewhere safe so the kids don't accidentally get their hands on them.
After the party's over, make sure you put your Halloween decorations away carefully to store them for next year.
Tricks or treats?
In years gone by, the idea of Trick or Treat was for kids to go door-to-door, asking people for sweets. If they said no, the householder may well wake up to find a horrendous mixture of flour and raw eggs splatted on their wall the next morning.
Today, a kinder attitude is encouraged, not least to help the many older people who live on their own, who might not have a lot of money and may be frightened if something like this happens.
Maybe we should make it all treats and no tricks this Halloween – have a great time, everyone!