Boo! It can only be Halloween!
Boo! Halloween is a popular holiday for dressing in costume, collecting sweets and throwing parties. But what’s the story behind these festivities?
Halloween is evolved from a Gaelic harvest festival named Samhain, meaning the end of summer. The Gaels (who lived in what is now Ireland and Scotland) would collect the last of the crops for the year. They would also celebrate the end of summer, or the “light” half and start of the “dark” half.
The traditional Gaelic stories, or folklore, say that on this night, the veil between the worlds of the dead and the living is very thin. Bonfires were lit and food and treats left around to please the most haunted of spirits.
The name Halloween only came into use much later, as a shortening of All Hallows’ Evening. “All Hallows” is a term for All Saints’ Day, which Christians commemorate on November 1.
How can you celebrate Halloween?
- Have a Halloween party and invite your friends over!
- Add to a few spooky songs to your playlist, such as Thriller from Michael Jackson or Monster Mash by Bobby “Boris” Pickett.
- Carve pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns and decorate your house with ghostly decorations, such as giant cobwebs and rubber spiders.
- Record a scary CD with horror sounds such as chains, screams and ghostly noises.
- Have a horror film marathon with a few friends. Bring popcorn and a pillow for those scary moments!
- If you’re a KIC student, check with your school’s Social Program Manager and he or she will happily let you know what’s happening to celebrate Halloween!
Are you looking forward to Halloween? So are we! Let us know what you will be doing or share your Halloween costume pictures with us. We would love to see them!
