The word Halloween brings to mind the images of scary masks, Jack– O-Lantern and special Halloween costumes. Halloween is observed on or around 31st of October every year. The festival has its roots in Samhain, which is a Celtic festival and in the Christian tradition of All Saints’ Day. Now days, it is celebrated by one and all.
Although it is enjoyed by all age groups, yet children are particularly enthusiastic about it. They start planning well in advance for the events. Most popular among the activities are carving the jack-o’-lanterns, playing pranks, visiting haunted places. Children enjoy trick or treating very much. In this they wear Halloween costumes and visit their friends and neighbours and ask them for a treat else they would play a trick on them.
Halloween costumes are worn to ward off or pacify the evil spirits on that day. Traditionally these were guises of ghosts, monsters, witches, devils etc but now the costumes also come in the form of science fiction characters, aliens or even superheroes. Costumes of the cartoon characters or some celebrities like Michael Jackson, Hannah Montana or even that of batman or vampires, Dracula are also quite popular. There are special costumes available in the market and you have a wide variety to choose from, depending on the age, sex, theme etc.
People generally organise parties to enjoy this day and they do so mostly Fridays or Saturdays before the 31st October. You can see all houses in any street decorated with lanterns made of carved pumpkins. Every one waits eagerly for this day.
