This remark seems to have not or even not at all popular in our country. But almost everyone knows Halloween is the day where everyone (in America of course) dresses up and decorate spooky house with a variety of things spooky. One thing that is always found on this date is the Jack O’Lantern, who formed a kind of decoration of pumpkin filled with candles or lights. Was usually carved pumpkin with a sinister form, so that when night comes, Jack O’Lantern to light the horrific.

Besides Jack O’Lantern earlier, various spooky decorations such as bats, skulls or skeletons, cobwebs, and sometimes ornaments shaped like magic equipment such as broomsticks and witches cauldron place a variety of drugs or poisons magic will appear in which – where. Not even a little ornament featuring a coffin vampire or vampire-style looks at the various houses.

What actually happened until a celebration of all this horror?

Many theories are developed on this Halloween, but the theory most widely accepted is that the Halloween celebrations comes from the ancient Gallic nation, called Samhain, which roughly means “End of Summer”. The festival is believed to be the end of “the light” (spring and summer) and beginning of the “dark period” (fall and winter). Nation of ancient Gaul believed that on October 31, or earlier in the day Samhain, the boundary between the real world and the unseen world will be very thin, so the residents could cross the unseen world into our nature.

In celebration of Samhain, usually on the ancient Gallic people will hold a big celebration for their ancestors long dead and “inviting” them to sit down to eat together, while the spirits or evil supernatural being would be expelled from their apartments. To further complicate the spirits or evil supernatural beings to spread negative influences in their midst, then the population will use the mask with a bad face or dress up like these evil supernatural beings, so that the evil supernatural beings were thought that they should not be harassed and let go with a festive celebration.

Traditions and beliefs of this tradition of wearing costumes to develop until now, even though Halloween in the modern world today, there are no costumes scary costumes anymore, but a variety of unique costumes ranging from animals to people or even superhero cartoon characters.

If so, why the name changed to Halloween?

It turned out that the name Halloween comes from the efforts of the Church at that time to stop people celebrating the feast day of Samhain is considered contrary to the Christian celebration. The Church adopted the celebration of Samhain became Saints Day (All Hallows Evening), with the hope of the Gallic population at that time will leave the celebrations that are not considered ecclesiastical.
From the name of All Hallows Evening, the population became Hallow’s Even and the longer the name short so that there is more to Halloween. Uniquely, although the names and a celebration of church feast, the Church would not be able to change form and tradition in this celebration.

Then what the hell is Jack O’Lantern?

Jack O’Lantern is a legend of Ireland. This legend tells of a wily and resilient farmers plus the successful cheapskate cheat the devil. He managed to make the devil up the tree and then carving a cross on the tree trunk so the devil cannot go down easily.

At the time of his death, he was not welcome in Heaven, as cunning and evil acts he did for a living, but Satan also refused him to enter Hell because of anger never deceived by Jack. But finally kindly Satan (or more evil) to provide a candle to accompany him for a walk in the darkness, because it cannot be accepted in Heaven or Hell. Candles were placed in the Turnip (a sort of turnip).
In the Irish immigrants came to America while continuing to maintain this tradition, unfortunately, the Americans did not commonly found Turnip, so that they eventually choose other vegetables there, and could replace the Turnip. Choice finally fell into a pumpkin (pumpkin) are more numerous and easily found in America. From here is, Jack O’Lantern from the pumpkin and then became famous around the world.

Ever heard Trick or Treat?

One of the unique traditions in America to welcome Halloween is Trick or Treat. The children will walk from house to house with a unique costume carrying a basket, and knocked on the door yelling “Trick or treat”. Actually this is a threat, because the original meaning is, if you do not provide “treats” or food, we will do “trick” or the naughtiness of this house. Home owners will go out and presented a variety of sweet foods like chocolate or candy in their baskets. Actually like what initially tradition?

This tradition is believed to appear in Europe in the 9th century, as a modern form of “Soul Day” which originally celebrated on November 2. On the day of “Soul Day” last, beggars would walk from village to village to ask for “Soul Cake” made from pieces of bread square with the contents of currants (a type of sweet wine). “Soul Cake” is a payment that was received by the beggar had to pray for the spirits of the dead family.