Halloween is a festival that takes place on October 31. This day was originally called All Hallow’s Eve because it fell on the eve of All Saints’ Day. According to old beliefs Halloween is the time, when the veil between the living and the dead is lifted, and witches, ghosts and other supernatural beings appear. Many Halloween customs are based on beliefs of the ancient Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in what is now Great Britain, Ireland and Northern France. Every year the Celts celebrated the Druid festival of Samhain, Lord of the Dead and the Prince of Darkness. It fell on October 31, the eve of the Druid New year. The Celts believed that on this night Samhain allowed the souls of the dead to return to their homes as witches, goblins, black cats or in other weird form. It was believed that evil spirits played tricks on October 31.
Now children dress up as ghosts and witches, go from house to house and say: Trick or treat, smell our feet. We want something good to eat.
