"When the owl and the witch together are seen, there's mischief a'brewing on Halloween."
It's the night of ghosts and goblins and things that go bump in the night… the one time of year when everyone actually enjoys being scared and giving goosebumps to all who dare venture out on this hauntingly fun holiday. Most Halloween traditions date back to the time of the Celtics, around 800 B.C. The Celts kept livestock, which were brought to closer pastures when the weather got colder. This marked the beginning of winter and the final harvest of the year. The Celts believed that on this night, ghosts, goblins and restless spirits roamed about looking for bodies to inhabit for the next year. Naturally, the living did not want to be possessed. They dressed up in costumes, and celebrated by making noise and acting strangely to frighten away the evil spirits.

Halloween Traditions
Just as the Celts marked their final harvest with costumes and celebration, others celebrated a religious tradition of honoring the saints who were no longer living. Although most saints were honored on the anniversary of their death, November 1 became a day dedicated to all saints, or All Saints' Day. It is on this evening that evil spirits were believed to roam about, so townspeople would don costumes and masks to scare them away. Another culture observed All Souls' Day, when families fondly remember the deceased. A popular practice was to make "soul cakes," simple but sweet bread desserts. Children would go door-to-door begging for the cakes, much like modern-day trick-or-treaters. Immigrants eventually brought their Halloween traditions to North America in the 1800's. As superstitions have faded over the centuries and religious festivals began to change, the traditions of Halloween took on a more playful, frightful and secular twist. It has slowly evolved into the fun-filled holiday we know today - an opportunity for people to indulge their imaginations in a celebration of spooky parties, haunted hayrides, scary costumes, and trick-or-treating. Horror movies, haunted houses, ghost stories and festive decorations have become a huge part of Halloween. Americans love the holiday and enjoy dressing up in costume on this special occasion.

Modern Halloween Traditions
From costumes and masks to haunted houses, trick-or-treating and "spook-tacular" parties, the Halloween of today lightheartedly borrows from the past. It's the stuff of imagination, when the world of make-believe becomes reality for young and old alike. During one fun-filled evening of the year, we can step outside of ourselves for awhile and play. Children pour onto the sidewalks at dusk, dressed as favorite characters, in search of sweet treats from the neighbors. Houses and yards bid welcome with the glow of jack-o-lanterns and delightfully frightful decorations that hang, sit, light up and make noise…all in the spooky spirit of the season. And parties abound, held in schools, homes, businesses and shopping malls, filled with fun and safe activities. For kids and adults alike,it is one of America's most enduring holidays. So as the shutters creak and the winds sigh and the monsters move down leaf-strewn streets, never fear - it's only Halloween…the one night when dressing up for the evening takes on a whole new meaning!

-Quote From New Vision