| Halloween was originally a pagan holiday | | | | do not open their doors to unknown persons - |
| celebrated by Celtic people and born from the | | | | including children - and we are not welcomed |
| pagan holiday "Samhain".Samhain is a holiday | | | | to ask for candies. By the way, many children |
| that celebrates the dark season of the Celtic | | | | are fighting in the streets to steal candy |
| year. Gallic people also celebrated this | | | | from others.French people think that this |
| holiday; which was called "Samonios". | | | | holiday is too commercial and while this |
| Samonios has been replaced in Gallic | | | | country finally adopted Halloween in the late |
| countries by Christian celebrations.Samhain | | | | 1990s, it is now less appreciated. There are |
| was celebrated three days before and three | | | | very few children ringing at the doors and |
| days after November 1st and the origin of | | | | asking for sweets.English people celebrate |
| there was no carved pumpkin nor trick or | | | | the Guy Fawkes Day on November 5th and |
| treating. People had a lantern made out of a | | | | adopted many customs from Samhain. These |
| turnip. The celebration was strictly observed | | | | festivities are marked by torchlight parades |
| by the whole society and gave the opportunity | | | | where children use masks made from beets and |
| to every barbarian to eat, drink and have | | | | pumpkins.Scottish people practice their |
| fun.Over the centuries, continental Europe | | | | ancient pagan rites. Children wear costumes |
| converted to Christianity and abandoned | | | | and cut scary faces into large rutabagas and |
| Samonios in favour of All Saints Day and | | | | place a candle inside them. They receive |
| Samhain became All Hallow's Eve.However, the | | | | candy when they provide a nice entertainment |
| Halloween that we currently celebrate has | | | | to their neighbours.Trick or treating |
| nothing in common with Samhain.Halloween and | | | | originated in Ireland, so as usual, Irish |
| All Saints Day are still interrelated because | | | | children in disguise will enjoy the Halloween |
| Halloween means "The Night Before the Feast | | | | festivities, they will carry lanterns cut |
| of All Saints" and "All Hallow's Day" is our | | | | into large rutabagas. Children will be |
| Continental All Saints Day.All Hallow's Eve; | | | | received by their neighbours with sweets and |
| which evolved during the Christianization of | | | | Irish houses will be decorated with Halloween |
| European populations, was imported in America | | | | lights.Spanish people enjoy each kind of |
| by European colonists and the current | | | | holidays and parties. Their kids will then |
| Halloween holiday was created by the Irish | | | | enjoy receiving candies from their neighbours |
| emigrants.In Belgium, two villages still | | | | and adults will have the opportunity to have |
| celebrate Samonios (Samhain), born from All | | | | a Halloween party in each and every club. |
| Saints Day, Grindin and Saint Gregory | | | | Spanish people also organize many Halloween |
| holidays. One of these villages is | | | | parades.Portugal does not celebrate |
| Gouy-Lez-Pieton. A friend of mine lives in | | | | Halloween; Portuguese people celebrate the |
| Gouy and when I talk about Halloween, she | | | | Day of the Dead by organizing feasts at the |
| says: "We did not replace Saint Nicholas | | | | cemetery.Some regions of Italy organize |
| holiday by Christmas so, we will not replace | | | | Halloween Events and it seems that the |
| our All Saints Day and our Day Of The Dead by | | | | Italian children enjoy this holiday.Other |
| Halloween!" However, she agreed to organize a | | | | European cities and clubs organize commercial |
| Halloween party with me next year.Here are | | | | events for Halloween (mainly for tourists), |
| some countries which celebrate Halloween:If | | | | newspapers publish articles dedicated to |
| some continental European countries adopted | | | | Halloween, but I am unsure that people really |
| Halloween, this has not been without | | | | practice Halloween. There are very few |
| difficulty. Indeed, we consider this | | | | information about Halloween festivities in |
| celebration being too "American Marketing" | | | | Europe; especially Central and eastern |
| style. European people give more value to | | | | Europe. They stick to their own All Saints |
| their culture and traditions than to | | | | Day and Day Of The Dead.Australia and New |
| commercial events.Belgian people celebrate | | | | Zealand begin to enjoy Halloween.USA, Canada, |
| Halloween since more than ten years but | | | | and Quebec: Halloween is very much |
| Gouy-Lez-Pieton refuses to adopt it, | | | | appreciated and I think that only some |
| preferring to celebrate their own | | | | worldwide disaster should prevent these |
| Samhain-style holiday. Even if Belgian people | | | | people to celebrate Halloween.Since some |
| organize a Day Before Christmas dinner, they | | | | years, there is a growing interest on the |
| still offer gifts to children on December 6th | | | | part of the Chinese population for western |
| and not on December 25th. So, I doubt that my | | | | events: Chinese people enjoy Halloween |
| country will replace All Saints Day by | | | | parties. |
| Halloween.On the other hand, Belgian people | | | | |