The month of monsters and candy is here and we can’t control our excitement. Personally, Halloween is my FAVORITE. I love watching people’s costumes and little adorable kids dressed like pumpkins asking for candies. Halloween, also known as All Hallows' Eve, is on Oct. 31 every year. While now, we celebrate Halloween all happy with costumes and candy, Halloween has much deeper and more spiritual roots than this!

1)    The Dark Side

The Halloween of today, in which children dress up as ghouls, ghosts, and witches and light-heartedly demand ‘treats’ from neighbours under threat of a ‘trick’, has largely been reimported from the United States, where Irish immigrants introduced the custom in the 19th century. It is thought to stem from the idea that on Halloween all law is suspended. Dressing up in masks and costumes prevents people from being recognized by their own community. Being separated in this way allows the participants to play boisterous and often antisocial tricks. 

2)    Honour the dead

The new year began in November, marked by the festival of Samhain, a celebration in which purifying bonfires were lit. On the night before Samhain, souls of the departed could return temporarily to their hearts, and ghosts and demons were free to roam the Earth.

3)    The day of the dead

In the 16th century, as they imposed Catholicism in Mexico, the colonizing Spaniards took elements of local religions and incorporated them into their rituals. The Day of the Dead on November 1 remains one of the great celebrations. 

4)    Orange and Black

There’s a reason why Halloween is associated with the colours orange and black. Orange and black are well-known contrasting Halloween colours. Orange symbolizes the fall harvest while black symbolizes death.

5)    Trick-or-treat

Many traces lead trick-or-treating back to Europe where people would go door to door in costume performing choreographed dance routines and songs in exchange for treats. At the time it was known as “mumming,” or “guising,” and was often associated with people begging for money. 

6)    Wear your skin

As a tradition, ancient tribes would wear costumes made out of animal skulls and skins. They believed it would help them connect to the spirits of the dead. Consider yourself lucky that we have costume stores now and don’t have to make them out of animals.

7)    Cats and superstitions 

Black cats are a classic symbol that goes along with Halloween. Many shelters are superstitious and concerned that people might harm or sacrifice the black cats during the time leading up to Halloween so they won’t allow them to be adopted the entire month of October. 

Spooked enough? Share with us your favourite scary story that goes with Halloween in the comment section below :D