Halloween is
a festival celebrated with pomp in western countries.  Everyone prepares for this festival in their
own way. Children used to celebrate this day by taking chocolates from relatives
and neighbours while elders celebrates this day by praying for the peace of
their ancestor’s soul. This year Halloween will take place on October 31.

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 Usually people dress up in beautiful clothes
on the festival but this festival is something different.  On this day people make a scary look by
running.  Makeup is done like spirits and
ghosts.  The clothes are also selected
according to this theme.

 In Europe, the people of the Celtic caste
believed that at this time the souls of the dead come and interview the worldly
beings.  They used to think that the
souls of their ancestors would come to earth, which would make it easier for
them to harvest.  That is why they used
to become witches and dance around the bonfire wearing animal masks, their
skin, their heads.

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 They believed that there was a specific
supreme natural force.  It was considered
‘All Saints-Day’-All Hallows (holy) or Hallows Eve, which gradually became
Halloween.

 In America, it is also associated with the
harvesting of pumpkin cultivation.  At
this time pumpkins are found in abundance and big, which can be easily cut.  On the front side, by cutting its mouth in
horror, they place a burning candle in the middle. Those who keep them on the
doorstep of the house in the dark at night in the memory of the old
century.  It is called Jack-O-lanterns.

 Lighting lanterns is a popular tradition on
Halloween Day.  The Irish folk tale of
miser Jack and the devil is believed to be behind this.  Irish-born miserly alcoholic Jack brought a
wicked friend into the house to drink, but he didn’t want to spend his
money.  He persuaded his friend to give
him a pumpkin i.e. Pumpkin in the house instead of alcohol. 

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 He later retracted from his word.  His friend angrily made Pumpkin’s scary
lantern and hung it on a tree outside the house, on which he carved his mouth
and put burning coals.  Since then, as a
lesson for some people, the practice of jack-o-lantern began on this day.

It is a sign
that points the way to the souls of their ancestors and protects them from evil
spirits.