The History Of Halloween, And Supporting Evidence To Celebrating This Holiday.

Essay by streetscoopCollege, UndergraduateA, November 2003

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Research Paper: Halloween

Halloween, or all hollow's evening is one of the most controversial holidays celebrated today around the world. Webster's dictionary defines Halloween as "...observed...dressing up in disguise, trick-or-treating, displaying jack-o'-lanterns..." (Webster-Miriam). Even though it may be the weirdest celebrated holiday, it does not however have any moral, patriotic or historical significance. Every child has the fond memories of windows in the neighborhood being lit by glowing jack-o-lanterns, and the eerie feeling of the dressed up haunted houses. Usually kids as well as adults go trick or treating door to door, sometimes even seeing what you think may be a hearse in the driveway, or hearing that bloodcurdling scream coming from the neighbors' backyard. Without a doubt the biggest and oldest house on the block is inhabited by a wicked witch dwells there on this October 31st, brewing a stew full of little children. When she opens up the door, the mist, sounds and smell spills out and you'll end up running out on the very road you arrived on.

Fear and panic have never been so much fun. The old witch in the big house turned out looking a bit like your mom, handing out the gobstoppers, and candy bars rather than pulling little children in to eat them for tonight's main entrée. The house really didn't seem so big up close, It was a small two bedroom home with a station wagon parked in the driveway. At the end of the night when all the houses are subjugated, and your bags of candy are filled you feel rewarded. Each year millions of kids around the world have experienced this memory. Just how and when did this peculiar custom originate? Is it, as some claim, a kind of demon worship?

The origin of this holiday are very complex...