Halloween: A Wealth of Tradition

We Love Halloween

They say that Halloween is second only to Christmas in popularity in the United States and in money spent on decorations and celebrations! Both of these holidays are wrapped up with all kinds of traditions that are fun for kids and grown-ups alike.

Some of the most popular activities associated with Halloween include trick-or-treating, fall festivals with a Halloween theme, and, of course, costume parties. While trick-or-treating is intended as primarily an activity for children, eating candy is a tradition for everybody. All of the great Halloween traditions and customs come out of the folklore of our common past.

Trick-or-treating

Trick-or-treating may be the most common Halloween tradition,in which children go from house to house asking for treats, asking, "Trick or treat?" The custom of trick-or-treating is thought to have originated with a ninth-century European custom called “souling.” Religious pilgrims would walk from village to village on the night of All Saints’ Eve, begging for "soul cakes," made out of square pieces of bread with currants. The more soul cakes the beggars would receive, the more prayers they would promise to say on behalf of the dead relatives of the donors.

Jack-o-Lanterns

The Jack-o-lantern custom probably comes from Irish folklore. According to the folktale, a man named Jack, who was notorious as a practical joker with a penchant for booze, tricked the devil into climbing a tree. Jack pulled out his knife and carved the sign of the cross in the tree's trunk. The Devil was unable to come back down and Jack made him agree to never take his soul.

Years later, Jack died but was denied entrance to the afterlife because the Devil remembered his promise. Jack pleaded with the Devil to at least grant him light in which to find his way back to the mortal realm. The Devil gave Jack some fire, which Jack shielded in a turnip. Ever since, Jack has been doomed to wander in the darkness alone, with nothing but his spooky lantern.

Favorite Halloween Tradition?

 So what do you think? What is your favorite Halloween Tradition?

Halloween Costumes Here!

 Costumes, costumes, costumes! What is Halloween without a great costume? Like Christmas without Santa Claus!

Costumes by ShindigZ