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Halloween
Halloween is an annual holiday celebrated on October 31.
Halloween has origins in the ancient festival known as Samhain, which is derived from Old Irish and means roughly "summer's end". This was a festival celebrated mainly in Ireland and Scotland. This festival is regarded as the "Celtic New Year". The celebration has some elements of a festival of the dead. The ancient Celts believed that the border between this world and the Other world became thin on Samhain, allowing spirits (both harmless and harmful) to pass through.
The family's ancestors were honoured and invited home while harmful spirits were warded off. It is believed that the need to ward off harmful spirits led to the wearing of costumes and masks. Their purpose was to disguise oneself as a harmful spirit and thus avoid harm.
But where does the origin of the name "halloween" come from? The term Halloween is shortened from All Hallows' Even – een is a shortening of evening. It is now known as "Eve of" All Saints' Day, which is November 1st.
Halloween is also related to A jack-o'-lantern which is typically a carved pumpkin. At night, a light is placed inside to illuminate the effect. Trick-or-treating is a customary celebration for children on Halloween. Children go in costume from house to house, asking for treats such as candy or sometimes money, with the question, "Trick or treat?" In some parts of Ireland and Scotland children still go guising. In this custom the child performs some sort of show, i.e. sings a song or tells a ghost story, in order to earn their treats.
Nguồn: Internet
