History of Halloween
Halloween is celebrated every October the 31st. But Where did the tradition start?
Origins of Halloween
The Celts celebrated the end of Summer and the beginning of Winter with a festival involving fire. They built bonfires to frighten away evil spirits.
When Christians came to Ireland the church partly took over the festival and changed it into All Souls Day and celebrated the next day as All Saints Day.
On the 31st of October bonfires were lit in the streets and countryside and children let off fireworks and took part in apple bobbing.
In America Halloween became very important and children went round 'trick or treating' They dressed up in frightening Halloween costumes and called round there neighbours houses expecting treats of chocolate and sweets.
In the UK generally children celebrated the 5th of November, Guy Fawkes and the gunpowder plot instead. However Halloween has been growing in popularity in the UK in recent years.
Origins of Pumpkin Carving
As part of Halloween celebrations the Celts turned turnips into turnip lanterns.
However as turnips were not available in America the Celts used pumpkins instead.
Pumpkin carving is now part of Halloween.