First off, where did Halloween begin? It seems it can be traced back over two thousand years to the Celts. At that time the festival was called Samhain. This festival marked the end of the Summer season and the beginning of the Winter season.

      On this night the Celts were afraid the dead would come back as ghosts and ruin their crops. The Celtic priests would “Druids” would dress up in animal skins and build huge bonfires. The people would gather and dance, feast and they would make sacrifices of animals and crops to ward off the ghosts. When they left, the people would take an ember from the bonfire with them to relight their hearths in their homes to protect them.

Today costumes are worn just to have fun and to celebrate the holiday. They are very different than those of the beginning years. Both children and adults enjoy this time of year. Nobody is really worrying about keeping the ghosts at bay. Besides children out trick-or-treating, there are many parades and festivals to attend.

In the 1840S when the Irish first came to America they brought the legend of the Jack-O-Lantern with them. At first the Jack-O-Lantern was not carved from pumpkins, children used potatoes and turnips, but when they arrived in America, they soon discovered the pumpkin and began using them. Here is the legend:

       There once lived a man named Jack, who was a tight wadded, nasty drunk. He fooled the Devil into going up into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While the Devil was in the tree, Jack cut a cross into the tree and the Devil could not come down. Jack, this nasty drunk, made the Devil swear that he would come after his soul. Now, Jack did die and he went to heaven but they would not let this nasty man in. Jack needed a place to go, so he went back to the Devil. All the Devil would give him was lighted piece of coal because he could not take his soul. Legend has it, that Jack was eating a turnip so he put the coal inside so he could see where he was going. Ever since then Jack has wandered the world looking for a place to rest. This is why children carve pumpkins and light them, to help Jack see the way in the dark.

The witch, everyone thinks of her as an ugly evil woman, flying around on her broomstick. Well the word witch comes from the old English word “Wicce” which means wise one and it also stems from “Wicca” which means healer. A witch really is a very wise woman, who is kind and helps the sick.

      The way is portrayed at Halloween is ridiculous. All ugly and standing over her bubbling pot of magical brew. This is nothing more than a wild fantasy of mankind.

It is believed by the Welsh that the phrase “God Bless You” is connected with Halloween. They truly believe everytime you sneeze, a part of your soul leaves your body. This is why they always say “God Bless You” so your soul stays.

     Now, they believe you should at all costs avoid sneezing on Halloween. The Welsh believe it could be very harmful to you on Halloween because a roaming spirit or the devil himself could get your soul.