People that believed in supernatural forces and spirits of the dead started Halloween.  The date for Halloween is the evening of October 31, before all Saints’ Day.  It is observed especially by children, who wear masks, and costumes, asks for treats, and carve jack-o-lanterns. 

          Halloween is held in most of North America, and in some areas in Western Europe.  For celebration in North America people dress up and go trick-or-treating.  Halloween is celebrated on October 31, in most of North America, but some places in Europe celebrate it on November 2, and November 5.

          Some customs practiced during the holiday are dressing up in costumes, going trick-or-treating, putting up decorations carving faces on hallow pumpkins, making jack-o-lanterns, and some people do pranks.  The most celebrated Halloween decoration is the jack-o-lantern, traditionally a hallowed-out pumpkin carved to resemble a grotesque face and illuminated with a candle placed inside.  The jack-o-lantern got its name from a character in a British folktale.  The folktale was about a person named Jack O’ Lantern that was barred from both heaven and hell, so he had to wander around the earth with his lighted lantern.

          Samhain is a holiday observed by the ancient Celts, a tribal people who inhabited most of Western and Central Europe.  Samhain started at sundown on October 31and extended into the following day.  In the United States people celebrate Halloween by dressing  up, going trick-or- treating, putting up decorations, and making jack-o-lanterns.

          I celebrate Halloween every year on October 31.  I go trick-or-treating, and put up decorations.  To celebrate Halloween in my school we have a dance and get to send candy grams to our friends.  After reading the packet about Halloween, I now know why most people celebrate Halloween, and that it is not all about the candy.

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