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History
of Halloween
When the Celts occupied Europe, long before the birth of Christ, Halloween was a time for all who lived
good lives to feast - similar to Thanksgiving.
This All Hallow's Eve was also the night when ghosts and goblins walked
the earth. People lit candles and masqueraded in frightening costumes made of animal skins to ward off the spirits of the
dead, who returned to earth as wandering cats, witches and ghosts. People in costume began to visit homes, asking for treats
- those who gave them would be assured of having a good year; those who did not were warned to watch out for spirits.
The
Romans, after conquering England and France, introduced their own touches to Halloween. They bobbed for apples and gave nuts
to their neighbours. The Italians left bread and water, and lit lamps before going to bed to appease visiting ghosts.
Other
Europeans put out doughnuts and milk for returning spirits while still others placed empty chairs in a circle, one for each
member of the family and one empty for an expected ghost. In the nineteenth century, Irish immigrants brought the holiday
to North America, where it has evolved to become a national celebration.
Halloween
at Present
Halloween today is a time for children to dress up in costumes of ghosts, witches and other supernatural beings, make
lanterns out of turnips or pumpkins and play games such as 'dunking' for apples. Local superstitions about this night abound.
The American custom of "Trick-or-Treating", originated in Great Britain as 'Mischief Night', which was the custom of soliciting
fruits and sweets from neighbours and was particularly popular in Scotland and Northern England and amounted to a form of
customary blackmail based on a person’s superstition. Generally the householder would happily give an offering to the
apparition, thus placating the spirit and ensuring only peace and good omens on his/her household. The term "trick-or-treat"
comes from the original idea that if a treat is not given to the person who asks, then a devious (but harmless) trick will
be played on the unwilling participant.
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Halloween Quotes
"Eye of newt, and toe of frog, Wool of bat, and tongue
of
dog, Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting, Lizard's
leg, and owlet's wing, For a charm of powerful
trouble, Like a hell-broth
boil and bubble."
- William Shakespeare.
"'Tis now the very witching time of night,
When churchyards
yawn and hell itself breathes out
Contagion to this world."
- William Shakespeare.
"Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and
cauldron bubble."
- William Shakespeare.
'Tis the night - the night
Of the grave's delight,
And
the warlocks are at their play;
Ye think that without
The wild winds shout,
But no, it is they - it is they.
-
Arthur Cleveland Coxe.
" Halloween
is huge in my house and we really get into the 'spirits' of things. A few years back, my wife was frustrated with the same
old stupid sound effects tape we would play, which ends with the theme from 'Ghostbusters' and 'Monster Mash'. I told her
that Halloween is way too cool a holiday to suffer through this every year."
-- Dee Snider
"A grandmother pretends she doesn't know who you are
on Halloween."
-- Erma Bombeck
"Deep into the darkness peering, long I stood there,
wondering, fearing, / Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before."
-- Edgar Allen Poe
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every
experience by which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this Horror.
I can take the next thing that comes along."
-- Eleanor Roosevelt
Black cats have long been associated with Witches and Halloween. Many superstitions have evolved
about cats. It was believed that witches could change into cats. Some people also believed that cats were the spirits of the
dead. One of the best-known superstitions is that of the black cat. If a black cat were to cross your
path you would have to turn around and go back because many people believe if you continued bad luck would strike you.
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Jokes
What do you get when you cross a vampire and a snowman?
Frostbite...
Why doesn't Dracula have any friends?
Because he's a
pain in the neck!
Why did the mummy call the doctor?
Because he was coffin.
Why
did the ghost go to the doctor?
To get his boo-ster shot.
Why are there fences around
cemeteries?
Because people are dying to get in.
Who did Frankenstein take to the
prom?
His ghoul friend.
Where does Dracula water ski?
On
Lake Erie
Where does Count Dracula make his withdrawals?
At the blood bank.
When
does a ghost need a license?
During "haunting" season.
Why do witches use brooms
to fly on?
Because vacuum cleaners are too heavy...
How do witches keep their
hair in place while flying?
With scare spray...
What do you get when you
cross a werewolf and a vampire?
A fur coat that fangs around your neck...
Do zombies
eat popcorn with their fingers?
No, they eat the fingers separately... Why don't skeletons ever go out on the town?
Because they don't have any body to go out with...
What time
was the Vampire's dentist appointment?
Tooth-Hurty (2:30)
What do you say to a
ghost with three heads?
Hello, hello, hello.
What did the baby ghost eat
for dinner?
A boo-loney sandwich.
What kind of street does a ghost like best?
A dead end.
What do you get when you cross a were-wolf with a
drip-dry suit?
A wash-and-werewolf.
What did the papa ghost say to the baby ghost?
Fasten
your sheet belt.
What is a witch with poison ivy called?
An itchy witchy.
Where
do vampires live?
In the Vampire State Building. |
Vampire Slayer Fun
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So
every year on the 31st of October the children will dress up in costume and go around the street to neighbours,
friends and family going Trick-or-Treating ..
The meaning of Trick-or-treating,
Trick-or-treating was a
relatively inexpensive way for an entire community to share the Halloween celebration. In theory, families could also prevent
tricks being played on them by providing the neighborhood children with small treats.
The true me
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