HALLOWEEN HISTORY LESSON:

Where did Halloween come from?
There are many different ideas about Halloween's origins. Some say it dates back nearly 6,000 years, while others argue that Halloween has a much shorter history. What most agree on is that Halloween's original focus was more about harvests than horror. Some say the tradition began with the Celts, who lived thousands of years ago in what is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France. The Celts celebrated their new year on November 1, which marked the end of summer and the beginning of the dark, cold winter (the only two seasons the Celts recognized.) To help protect themselves and their crops during the long winter, the Celts staged a joyous harvest celebration called Samhain (pronounced sow-in), which means "summer's end." They also supposedly wore costumes and told each other's fortunes at this time.

How did the name 'Halloween' come about?
By the 800's, Christianity had spread into Celtic lands and Pope Boniface IV named November 1 "All Saints' Day." It was a day to honor those who died for their beliefs. The celebration was also called "All-hallows" or "All-hallowmas" (from an old English word "Alholowmesse," meaning All Saints' Day). People began to call the night before it "All-hallows Eve." This name eventually became Halloween.

Why did people start trick-or-treating?
Trick-or-treating most likely dates back to early All Souls' Day parades in England. During the festivities, poor people would beg for food. Families would then give them pastries called "soul cakes" in return for their promise to pray for the family's dead relatives. Children eventually took on this tradition, known as "going a-souling," and they would visit houses in their neighborhood for drinks, food and money.

Where did the name "Jack-o'-Lantern" come from?
The name "Jack-o'-Lantern" comes from an old Irish myth about a famous trickster named Stingy Jack, who was not allowed into either heaven or below because of his trickery. According to the story, the devil gave Jack a glowing piece of coal placed inside a hollowed-out turnip to light his way at night. As the legend goes, Stingy Jack has been roaming the face of the earth ever since. The Irish named this ghostly figure "Jack of the Lantern," which was later shortened to "Jack o' Lantern." Turnips were cut with scary faces representing demons and were originally intended to frighten away evil spirits (like Stingy Jack!) When European immigrants came to America, they found no turnips, but an abundance of pumpkins. Pumpkins made perfect Jack-o'-Lanterns because of their bright orange color, round shapes and soft insides.

Excerpted from www.timeforkids.com.