Staff Pick: Halloween

Haadiya Meriam Al-Awady, Writer, Photographer

Who doesn’t love Halloween? Halloween is a special day of the year where you can dress up as whatever you want to be, receive delicious candy and spend a wonderful yet spooky time with your family and friends. But do we really know the history and background story of Halloween and it’s origins?

The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago, in an area that is now Ireland, would hold an annual festival called ‘Samhain’ on the night of October 31st. This day marked the end of summer and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before their new year (Nov. 1st), the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. According to the Celts, it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth on this particular day.

Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating treats. However, Halloween is not always on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday! Having Halloween in the middle of the week can get in the way of your weekly schedule and especially school. As students we would love to go out, dress up and go door to door saying “trick or treat”, yet sadly some of us will have to stay indoors and write our essays.

For those that do get the opportunity to trick or treat, I have some safety tips for you! Always check your candy before consuming it, make sure your costume fits well/won’t cause injuries, cross the streets safely (look left and right, hold hands with your sibling or child), and be careful where you are going to trick-or-treat (a familiar/safe place). It is better to be safe than sorry and to plan out your night before it starts and most of all, enjoy the moments!

To conclude, Halloween is a spooky and fun holiday that should be celebrated with happiness and joy. Dressing up in costumes, going to the parties, looking at the amazingly decorated homes, and eating the delicious treats is what makes this time of the year so amusing. Happy Halloween to all!