Whispers from the Edge of the Rainforest

Halloween or Hallowe'en (a contraction of "All Hallows' Evening"), also known as All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly celebration observed in a number of countries on October 31.

It is the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows or All Saints Day. 

According to many scholars it was originally influenced by western European harvest festivals and festivals of the dead with possible pagan roots, particularly the Celtic Samhain.

Others maintain that it originated independently of Samhain and has Christian roots.

North American almanacs of the late 18th and early 19th century give no indication that Hallowe'en was celebrated there.

The Puritans of New England maintained strong opposition to Hallowe'en and it was not until the mass Irish and Scottish immigration during the 19th century that it was brought to North America in earnest.

Confined to the immigrant communities during the mid-19th century, it was gradually assimilated into mainstream society and by the first decade of the 20th century it was being celebrated coast to coast by people of all social, racial and religious backgrounds.

Typical festive Halloween activities include trick-or-treating (also known as "guising"), attending costume parties, carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted attractions, playing pranks, telling scary stories, and watching horror films.

How so ever you choose to mark the day, to each and all... a safe and happy night.

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