1 Halloween (31 October) originated among the Celts in Ireland, Britain and France
as a pagan celtic harvest festival and the festival dates back more than 2000 years.
2 In the 19th century, Scottish, Irish and other immigrants took versions of this festival to
Canada and America.
3 Halloween (formerly Hallow’en) is the shortened form of All Hallows Evening,
(sometimes called All Hallows Eve) - i.e. the evening before All Hallows day
(which is another name for All Saints’ Day).
All Hallows Day was a day of religious festivities.
4 Halloween is sometimes called “Pooky night” in some parts of Ireland, named after
the Puca, a mischievous little spirit. It can also be called: Samhain, All Hallowtide,
The Feast of the Dead or The Day of the Dead.
5 Halloween is often linked to the occult and is a time when some people think that
the spiritual world is most likely to link up with the physical world.
6 People, many years ago, used to celebrate New Year on November 1st.
LINKS:
A website that is well worth visiting is the one which is made by
Woodlands Junior School, Tonbridge, Kent