The Traditions
Pumpkin Carving
In the 18th Century the Irish use to carve out Turnips and Beets and Potatoes to place candles inside and place on their doorsteps, this was to keep the spirit of Stingy Jack away from their homes on All Hallows Eve, when they believed that the dead could cross back to the land of the living.
Another theory is that the Celts use to carve out skeletons heads in Turnips and Beets, they placed them on their window sills to represent the dead and show respect to them.
American origion
It wasn't until the famine in 1860 when Irish immigrants went over to North America where they adopted this tradition of Halloween. However, the Americans used pumpkins as they were readily available and were much larger and so could be carved more easily. They also replaced the celebration of deceased loved onces with ghouls and candy. Commercialasion took over and made it what it is today.
Dressing up
Back in the 18th Centuary when people believed that the spirits could return on 'All Hallows Eve' people use to wear a mask, or dress as a ghost when they left their homes as to discuse themselves from the spirits, as not all the spirits that returned were had good intentions.
Trick or Treat
The poorer members of the community would go round to their neighboroughs and off to pray for their deceased on All Hallows Eve in return for a 'Soul Cake' which was basically a current bun.
Another theory was that Trick or Treating on Holloween (also know as mischief night) was children who dressed up in scary costumes to scare their neighboroughs into giving them sweets and money. i think this theory was brought in a lot later that the previous.
Apples
Unmarried people would attempt to take a bite out of an apple while bobbing in water or hanging for string from the ceeling, the first one to take a bit was thought to be the next one to marry.
Also women eating an apple in front of a canndle lit mirror were believed to be shown who their sprouse.
Its also said that an unbroken apple peel can show the amount of years you have left to live, the longer the peel is the more years you have.
Pumpkin Carving
In the 18th Century the Irish use to carve out Turnips and Beets and Potatoes to place candles inside and place on their doorsteps, this was to keep the spirit of Stingy Jack away from their homes on All Hallows Eve, when they believed that the dead could cross back to the land of the living.
Another theory is that the Celts use to carve out skeletons heads in Turnips and Beets, they placed them on their window sills to represent the dead and show respect to them.
American origion
It wasn't until the famine in 1860 when Irish immigrants went over to North America where they adopted this tradition of Halloween. However, the Americans used pumpkins as they were readily available and were much larger and so could be carved more easily. They also replaced the celebration of deceased loved onces with ghouls and candy. Commercialasion took over and made it what it is today.
Dressing up
Back in the 18th Centuary when people believed that the spirits could return on 'All Hallows Eve' people use to wear a mask, or dress as a ghost when they left their homes as to discuse themselves from the spirits, as not all the spirits that returned were had good intentions.
Trick or Treat
The poorer members of the community would go round to their neighboroughs and off to pray for their deceased on All Hallows Eve in return for a 'Soul Cake' which was basically a current bun.
Another theory was that Trick or Treating on Holloween (also know as mischief night) was children who dressed up in scary costumes to scare their neighboroughs into giving them sweets and money. i think this theory was brought in a lot later that the previous.
Apples
Unmarried people would attempt to take a bite out of an apple while bobbing in water or hanging for string from the ceeling, the first one to take a bit was thought to be the next one to marry.
Also women eating an apple in front of a canndle lit mirror were believed to be shown who their sprouse.
Its also said that an unbroken apple peel can show the amount of years you have left to live, the longer the peel is the more years you have.
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