October 31st? It's time to celebrate Halloween!

October 31st? It's time to celebrate Halloween!
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Halloween is by now an international holiday. It’s not only celebrated in the States, but in many European countries as well. And of course, here in Italy.

But why do we celebrate Halloween? It’s a holiday based on superstitions with origins back in the time of the Druids. Who were these Druids? They were “priests” of an ancient religion in England and France who believed that on October 31st, the dead came back to life on earth in the form of animals.

When the Catholic church named November 1st All Saints Day, the evening before was a “hallowed eve” (una vigilia santa), which was eventually pronounced “Halloween”. On the eve, people knocked on doors and asked for cakes for All Saints Day. And that is how “Trick or Treating” began.

Trick or Treating (dolcetto o scherzetto!) is now a part of the Halloween tradition. On Halloween night generally people are prepared for the arrival of the “trick or treaters”. They have a lot of candy and cookies, or anything else good to eat, ready for them. If the people don’t happen to have anything, the trick or treaters can be justified in playing a trick on them!

Of course, Halloween is also an excuse to get dressed up in costumes. Originally children wore white sheets (with eye-holes!) to become “Ghosts”. Now any kind of costume is permitted, from Batman to Cinderella.

Not only children celebrate. There are Halloween parties for all ages. The traditional Halloween party is not complete without someone telling a nice scary ghost story.

I recommend stories by Edgar Allan Poe, the most famous American author of Horror stories. My favourite is “The Black Cat”. I rewrote this story in simplified English so if any teacher would like a copy for her class, I’d be happy to send it out by e-mail.

Bye for now, find a nice Halloween costume and go out and celebrate!

Happy Halloween!!