Boo! Ghosts and Goblins Will be Out On Halloween Night

On October 31st, Americans celebrate Halloween. It is all for fun! Kids dress up in costumes and go door to door begging for candy and other treats. Adults get in the act too. They might dress in costume to take their kids out for Trick or Treat night, or host their own costume party.

Decorations around homes include graveyards, spider webs, and witches hanging from trees. Families carve faces in pumpkins, called Jack-O-Lanterns, and light them from the inside with candles that give their faces an eerie glow.

Halloween started in the 1800s

Americans began celebrating Halloween in the 1800s. October 31st puts the holiday right before the Christian holiday, “All Saints Day” or “All Hallows Day.” That would make the eve called “All Hallows Eve” or “Halloween.”

It became a night to celebrate the dead, which is common in many cultures. Hispanics celebrate the Day of the Dead with religious services and tributes to family members who have passed on.

Overall, the holiday lost its religious meaning in this country. It became a day for children and adults to dress up in masks and costumes to attend parties and to go Trick or Treating. And that is what we do today.

Most cities and towns allow Trick or Treat at special times during the day or early evening to keep children safe while they go from door to door. Some towns allow Trick or Treat on the weekend before Halloween. Others may hold Trick or Treat in town halls. Check your local newspaper for information.

Many schools have a party in the classroom or a parade in the building so that kids can show off their costumes. Costumes are meant to be scary, like witches or vampires. But many people like to masquerade as cowboys, angels, princesses, cartoon characters, and popular culture characters like Harry Potter.

The highlight for children is Trick-or-Treat. They go door to door in costume, requesting candy. Kids shouldn't Trick or Treat alone in unfamiliar neighborhoods. To give out treats, leave your lights on and give out individually wrapped pieces of candy.

Besides Trick or Treating, kids go to friend's parties or often Trick or Treat at malls and other places of business.

Young children should always be in the company of an adult. Masks should allow children to see where they are walking and costumes should give them freedom of movement so that they don't trip or fall.