Ok class today we are going to talk about the third largest party day of the year, after New Years Eve and The Super Bowl, Halloween.   On this day we all like to get dressed up disguising ourselves to go out and get tricks or treats (depending on your age and tastes).  We party and get drunk or sit at home and give candy out to young children who follow suit of their parents.  Some of us protest the day because of religious beliefs, while others lift it up and call on demonic forces.  While all of the partying, candy grubbing, protesting or chanting is going on, very few think or care why we celebrate or protest this day and even fewer know why.  Rumors have it that Halloween started as a holiday celebrated by witches in Salem, but this is far from the truth.  The basis of Halloween started around 835 A.D. by Pope Gregory IV. 

Pope Gregory IV, a Celtic Pope, designated November 1 as All Saints Day or All Hollow’s Day (The term Hallow refers to saints).  This day was to celebrate the harvest and a new year.  This was the time that summer ended and winter began (yes in early days they only had two seasons).  With winter, the “Dark Time”, the Celtic people prepared for major deaths.  So on All Hallow’s Day Eve, New Years Eve, October 31st, it was believed that ghosts, evil spirits and some say witches roamed about.  They believed that the frustrated ghosts and spirits would play tricks on humans and cause supernatural manifestations.  During the All Hallow’s Day Eve celebration, people wore grotesque masks and danced around bonfires which was lit to scare away the evil spirits, food was placed to make the ghosts or the spirits of the good, feel welcome and at home.  In early American history you will not find celebrations of Halloween.  As a matter of fact Halloween was not celebrated until the early twentieth century, it was celebrated mainly in small Irish Catholic Settlements, it did not make it to America until large groups of Irishmen migrated to America.  As for the “Trick” or “Treat” part, this came about to please the spirits and ghosts.  It was believed that if food was not put out to please the spirits, they would “Trick” you and if you pleased them then they would “Treat” you. 

Now that you have been educated, you can party a little smarter now .  If you are in a situation where someone asks you, “Mommy” or “Daddy, what is the true meaning of Halloween?“, you can proudly say “Child, come sit and let me tell you a story.”  When unruly children come knocking at your door dressed as fairies, power rangers, ghosts or that ugly girl from The Grudge, remember you better “Treat” them right, or they may “Trick” you and egg your house.  That ends our lesson today, read…eh, never mind. 

Later 

The history of Halloween is not something I care about, I just like sending my nephew and niece out to get me free candy, and scaring the hell out of people.  Can someone explain this picture to me it’s very disturbing.