Halloween

By Guadalupe Miranda

Halloween is a festival celebrated in some countries as: United States, Canada, Ireland, etc., on the night of October 31. Its origin is the Celtic Festival and the Christian holiday of All Saints Day

In 1840 this festival comes to America. Irish immigrants passed versions of the tradition during the Great Irish Famine and they were who spread the custom to carve the "Jack-o'-lantern" (hollow giant pumpkin with a candle inside), inspired by the legend of "Stingy Jack."

photo by Shannon Buckley-Shaklee

However, the party did not start mass held until 1921. That year was the first Halloween parade in Minnesota and other states then followed. The party gradually acquired popularity in the coming decades and the internationalization of Halloween took place in the late 70's and early 80's thanks to movies and television series.

This day is often associated with the colors orange, black and purple. The typical activities include the famous Halloween trick and costume parties, besides bonfires, visiting haunted houses, jokes, reading scary stories and watching horror movies.

photo by Shannon Buckley-Shaklee

But the most important legend says: the door between the living world of the beyond opened and the spirits of the dead were a procession in the villages where they lived. On this night the spirits visited the houses of their relatives, and they had to put a candle in the window of the house for each deceased in the family. If there was a candle in memory of each deceased, spirits did not disturb the family, if not, the spirits disturbed at night and they could have terrible nightmares.

Now, Halloween is one of the most important dates in United States. Some Latin American countries have their own traditions and celebrations for this day, but they agree in its meaning: the union or extreme closeness of the living world and the kingdom of the dead.