The social history of Halloween

Extract

[...] It also shows the transformation of Halloween. Information within the book is also available on where the date of Halloween came from. For example November 1 was an important date to the Celts. Preparing for the grim and harsh winter months ahead, many Celts realized that they could lose their entire food supply or maybe lose a loved one due to the unfavorable living conditions. In order to prepare for this time of the year, the Celts held a festival call Samhain on October 31. [...]

[...] The purpose of this book was the study of the American holidays and what America does for Halloween. It shows the purpose that United States has Halloween., what ages trick or treat in the United states. For example in contemporary Halloween celebrations, American children wear costumes and trick or treat for goods from adults with threats of property destruction. In- Halloween rituals children leave home and family to join other children for an evening of pranks in order to get sweets in a nonreligious atmosphere. [...]

[...] In the 800's Christian church established a new holiday all saint day, on November 1st. Also called All Hallows day. Hallow meant Saint. For centuries in Europe, people remembered the dead at All Saints Day and All Soul Day on November 2nd with bonfires. In Ireland they would bake coins in cakes and it was believed if a person found a coin in there cake that they would become rich. In England People went house to house Souling asking for small bread and cakes. [...]

[...] Personal Immersion This Assignment provided me with information that I would have never known about the history of Halloween. I always thought that Halloween came from Salem witch craft or maybe the Candy Companies wanting to make money. I learned that that the United States did not create Halloween that it came from the Celtic History and the day of the dead. I now have more information on the Samhain and the beliefs that they had. Trick or Treating actually came from souling which was a practice from England when children or even adults would beg for small bread or cakes. [...]