Halloween

Halloween

        Halloween originated from over 2000 years ago as a festival. However, nowadays, this holiday is celebrated throughout the world in different ways. All the supernatural ideas and thoughts were slowly formed throughout history, such as jack-o-lanterns, candy, the colors, costumes, overall all, how we celebrate Halloween today was slowly developed for approximately 2000 years.

What you need to know

             This holiday originated in an ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. People would light bonfires and wear a costume to ward off ghost. People back in this time on October 31st celebrated Samhain when it was believed that the ghost of the dead returned to Earth. Later on, in the 18th century, Pope Gregory iii designated November 1st as a time to honor all saints day. Saints day incorporated some of the traditions of the Samhain. The day before November 1st was known as All Hallows Eve and later Halloween. Halloween evolved into a day of activities such as reading spooky stories, such as “Tell-Tale Heart” from authors such as Edgar Allen Poe, etc. Things such as trick or treating, carving pumpkins, festive gatherings, clever costumes, and candy!   

                                

Trick or treating

In various countries children come up to a person's house knock on the door and say”Trick or treat” then are usually handed candy of some sort, or often back then, they would be given ‘soul cakes’. Soul cakes were encouraged by the church for replacing food and wine for the roaming spirits. These traditions are borrowed from old Irish and English traditions, Americans would go door to door and ask for things like food or money as well. This eventually led to the modern trick or treat, which millions of Americans participate in yearly. This tradition growing was mainly based on more scary things and tricking people. In the 18th century, in America, people wanted to shift the focus on Halloween to a more happier time and get-together's rather than fright. Parents were in full focus to do this shift. Along with this, the change of the holidays purpose changed to less of a religious holiday.

        

         

The Scary Part

              In modern times most people love a good scare but why? Well, the reasoning behind this that expert professor David H. Zald say is “For many people, everyday life can feel overly routine or even boring.” By contrast, when scared we are fully aware, conscious and in the moment. “We are not preoccupied thinking about what happened yesterday or what we have to do tomorrow."  This can explain why Halloween is such a hit every year because everyone can love a good scare. “They can generate a robust physiological response”, says sociologist Margee Kerr, who specializes in the science of fear. The body's arousal system is kicked into gear by a good on-screen scare, she says, triggering a "full-on chemical cascade" of endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, and adrenaline. The fight-or-flight response those chemicals create in our bodies can be a natural high that can feel good under certain circumstances,” Kerr says.  Naturally, our body likes to receive this chemical cascade causing us to want more. So there you go, there's the reason why we like the scary part of Halloween.

Superstition

                Everybody has probably encountered, heard of, or believes in some kind of superstition. Well near Halloween time these superstitions are especially relevant. One various person believes in are black cats are bad luck. People view it as an omen of death or misery (I guess it’s the scary black color). Another superstition is bats if bats are circling around a house three times someone could possibly die! Spiders are said to be a loved one watching over you that's why they build their webs. So you may or may not believe in these or not but next time one comes about just think!

Sources:

times.com/articles/19127/20141030/halloween-scares-why-some-of-us-are-drawn-to-fear.htm

history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween