Halloween

children celebrating halloween in costumes
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Halloween, celebrated annually on Oct. 31, is a festive and spooky tradition that has roots in the ancient Celtic festival called Samhain. It marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter when the boundary between the living and the dead blurred. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated Nov. 1 as All Saints' Day, incorporating some of Samhain's elements.

Today, Halloween involves various activities like costume parties, trick-or-treating, and haunted house visits. Children and adults alike don elaborate costumes and go trick-or-treating. Decorations, including carved pumpkins (jack-o'-lanterns), symbolize the warding off of evil spirits. The holiday has transcended its religious origins to become a widely embraced, secular celebration, fostering creativity, community, and a sense of playful fright.

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