Halloween Halloween originated thousands of years ago. It is also called "Samhain", "All Souls Day", or "All Hallow's Eve". The Celts celebrated their New Year on November 1st with a festival which marked the end of the "season of the sun", and the beginning of "season of darkness and cold". On October 31st after the crops were harvested and stored for winter and the cooking fires were extinguished in the homes, the "Druids" and the Celtic priests would meet on the hilltops in the dark forest which consists of oak trees which were considered sacred back in those days. The Druids would light fires and offer sacrifices of crops and animals while they danced around the fires, and that is when the season of the sun passed and the season of darkness would begin. When morning came the Druids would give embers from the fires to each family who would take them home to start cooking on the new fires. These fires would supposedly keep the homes free of evil spirits. Samhain would begin on November 1st and the festival would last for 3 days. Many people would parade around in costumes made with animal skins and animal heads. This festival would become the first Halloween. In the year 835AD the Roman Catholic church would make November 1st a church holiday to honor all the saints. This day was called "All Saints Day", "All Hallows", or later "All Souls Day". This day was to honor the dead, and it was celebrated with bonfires, parades and people dressing up as saints, angel, or devils. Over the years the customs from all these holidays mixed, and people would continue to celebrate on the eve of All Hallows which is October 31st. Eventually, October 31st became known as "All Hallow's Eve", and then Halloween. The Halloween we celebrate today includes all the influences from the different customs which are Samhain's black cats, magic, evil spirits and death.. the ghosts, skeletons and skulls from All Saint's Day, and apples, nuts, and harvest from the Pomona Days of the Roman's. Trick Or Treat The history of "Trick'O'Treating" can be traced back to the early celebrations of All Soul's Day in Britain. The poor would go begging and the housewives would give them special treats called "soulcakes". This was called "going a-souling", and the "soulers" would promise to say a prayer for the dead. Over time the custom changed and the town's children became the beggars. As they went from house to house they would be given apples, buns, and money. During the Pioneer days of the American West, the housewives would give the children candy to keep from being tricked. The children would shout "Trick or Treat!". Trick or treat, Smell my feet Give me something good to eat~!! counter started on 31 Oct 2003 Page created on 31 Oct 2003. KADesigns©2003 Best viewed with 1024x768 resolution and ie 5 or higher.