Headless horsemen, witches and ghosts, tricks and treats...just about everyone's familiar with the tradition known as Halloween. But how did an ancient pagan ritual grow into one of the most popular holidays of the year? Read on to learn more about October 31 and the night known as Halloween.

1. Fun Halloween Facts
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2. By Marcus Lane
HEADLESS HORSEMEN, WITCHES AND GHOSTS, TRICKS AND
TREATS...JUST ABOUT EVERYONE'S FAMILIAR WITH THE TRADITION
KNOWN AS HALLOWEEN. BUT HOW DID AN ANCIENT PAGAN RITUAL
GROW INTO ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR HOLIDAYS OF THE YEAR? READ
ON TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OCTOBER 31 AND THE NIGHT KNOWN AS
HALLOWEEN.

3. By Marcus Lane
IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE DRUIDS WERE THE FIRST TO OBSERVE
HALLOWEEN; AS FAR BACK AS 700 B.C., THEY CELEBRATED THE FESTIVAL
OF SAMHAIN (PRONOUNCED SOW-IN) ON NOVEMBER 1, SIGNIFYING THE
END OF THE HARVEST AND THE TIME TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAD
PASSED AWAY. WHEN THE CHRISTIANS SET ABOUT TO CONVERT THE
PAGANS, SOME ADAPTATION OF THE PAGAN RITUALS HAD TO BE MADE
TO KEEP THE DRUIDS FROM LEAVING THE CHURCH. IN ORDER TO DO
THIS, NOVEMBER 1ST BECAME KNOWN AS 'ALL SAINTS DAY,' HONORING
THOSE IN HEAVEN, WHILE OCTOBER 31ST WOULD BE ADDED AS 'ALL
HALLOWS EVE,' OR HALLOWEEN, THE NIGHT WHEN ALL THE DEAD WERE
TO BE REMEMBERED.

4. By Marcus Lane
TODAY, THIS RITUAL FOR THE DEAD IS STILL REMEMBERED AND
OBSERVED IN MANY CULTURES. FOR SOME, THIS MEANS LEAVING FOOD
OUT FOR THE DEAD, OR COOKING SOME SPECIAL MEAL THAT THE
DEPARTED FAVORED. FOR OTHERS, IT IS SIMPLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO
SEE THE LATEST HORROR FLICKS, TO ENGAGE IN FORTUNE TELLING AND
SEANCES OR, MORE POPULAR, TO ATTEND HALLOWEEN PARTIES AND
HAVE FUN GOING DOOR TO DOOR TO 'TRICK OR TREAT.'
WHILE THE EXACT ORIGINS OF TRICK OR TREAT ARE UNKNOWN, IT IS
BELIEVED TO BE TIED INTO AN ANCIENT CUSTOM WHERE PEOPLE LEFT
FOOD ON THEIR DOORSTEP, IN ORDER TO PREVENT HUNGRY SPIRITS
FROM ENTERING THEIR HOME. PEOPLE ATTENDING PARTIES AND
FESTIVALS WOULD DRESS IN FRIGHTENING COSTUMES, SUCH AS
GHOSTS, GOBLINS AND WITCHES, BECAUSE IT WAS BELIEVED THAT IN
DOING SO, THE WANDERING SPIRITS OF THE DEAD WERE SURE TO LEAVE
ONE ALONE. JACK-O'-LANTERNS WERE RUMORED TO HAVE A SIMLIAR
PURPOSE, KEEPING EVIL POWERS AT BAY.

5. By Marcus Lane
THE JACK-O'-LANTERN IS ALSO MENTIONED IN AN OLD IRISH LEGEND
WHERE A STINGY MAN, KNOWN AS JACK, WAS SO CRUEL AND MISERLY
THAT HE WAS DENIED ENTRANCE TO HEAVEN. AS AN ADDED
PUNISHMENT, JACK WAS DOOMED TO FOREVER WANDER ABOUT THE
NIGHT, WITH ONLY A LANTERN TO LIGHT HIS PATH, UNTIL THE DAY THAT
HE SHOULD BE JUDGED. WHILE THE IRISH COMMONLY CARVED TURNIPS
AND OTHER VEGETABLES INTO LANTERNS, IT THEN BECAME THE
PRACTICE TO FASHION THE LANTERNS INTO FRIGHTENING FACES,
PERHAPS IN HOPES THAT THIS WOULD KEEP THE WANDERING SPIRIT OF
JACK FAR FROM THE ONE WHO CARRIED THE LANTERN OR, PERHAPS,
SIMPLY AS A REMINDER OF WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE WHO WERE
MISERLY AND MEAN (BEING STINGY IS A GREAT CRIME IN THE MINDS OF
MOST IRISHMEN).

6. By Marcus Lane
WHATEVER THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF THE HOLIDAY AND ALL ITS
TRADITIONS, HALLOWEEN REMAINS A CHERISHED NIGHT, AMONGST THE
YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE. WHETHER YOU ENJOY DRESSING UP, TELLING
SPOOKY GHOST TALES, OR SIMPLY ENJOY THE DISPLAY OF COSTUMES
AND SPARKLING EYES AS YOU HAND OUT CANDY, HALLOWEEN IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO LET DOWN YOUR HAIR FOR ONE EVENING AND BE
WHATEVER YOUR DREAMS WILL ALLOW. GRAB YOUR PILLOWCASE AND
FLASHLIGHT; THE 31ST IS DRAWING NEAR!

7. Happy Halloween! 
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