Born from the Gaelic festival “Samhain” marking the end of the harvest season and into winter- the dark times and aided by Pope Gregory III’s “All Saints Day” and the Celtic “New Year”; comes “All Hallows Eve” or “Halloween”.
Granted this is a streamlined version of half of my pagan ancestry, but it marks the time when bonfires were lit and costumes were worn to ward off the ghosts and goblins of that time.
It was these same pagan beliefs that came to America in force fleeing the Ireland’s potato famine, which now allows children to dress up and beg for candy.
Trick or Treat!