Added: 01/04/2006 |
Halloween party is always funHalloween is October 31st. The Halloween customs that we observe on October 31 had their beginnings long, long ago. They came from the beliefs of the druids - priests of ancient Gaul and Britain. The druids believed that witches, demons, and spirits of the dead roamed the earth on the eve of November 1. Bonfires were lit to drive the bad spirits away. To protect themselves further from the mean tricks of the bad spirits, the druids offered them good things to eat. They also disguised themselves so that the spirits would think the druids belonged to their own evil company. Surely the spirits would not harm members of their own group! Or so the druids thought. And thus we celebrate Halloween by playing trick or treat, dressing up in costumes, and wearing masks.
This holiday on October 31 is not an official one, it is a very special day. It is traditionally associated in some countries with old customs such as telling ghost stories, bonfires and so on. This is the way the Celts welcomed the beginning of winter. It is a special holiday for children. In old times the night of October 31 was the last night of the year when all the witches and ghosts were out. It was a celebration of dead souls.
Nowadays Halloween is a very popular holiday, especially for children. Children make faces on pumpkins and put a candle inside. These pumpkins are called jack-o'-lanterns. Children and adults are dressed in costumes of ghosts, clowns. Many of the costumes are witches in white sheets, trying to scare the winter spirits. Many people wear Halloween masks. They do not know who is who and try to guess who is behind the masks. Also children do Halloween makeup.
There are Halloween day and Halloween party in many schools. Children begin to prepare for the Halloween party long before, sometimes weeks before the holiday. During the holiday there is usually a parade of costumes, and the participants and the guests of the holiday choose the most original costume. They have some special things to eat and to drink: apple juice, popcorn, caramel apples, candies, oranges.The Halloween party is always fun, with jokes, games, mysteries, witches, scarecrows, black cats, bats and other characters who try to frighten the others.
Dressed in costumes children go to the different people's home, ring at the door saying, "Trick or threat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat". This means that if people do not give them candies or apples or other things, the children may play a trick on them (shaving cream on the car or on the door, for example).
A favourite game at Halloween party is ducking for apples. Apples swim in the water in a big bowl. Children are to get one. Each child holds a fork in his (her) mouth and tries to stab an apple. The children get very wet but enjoy themselves greatly.
Sometimes the best parties are those that include adults and children. You can divide the responsibilities for planning, food, and decorations making it easier on everyone. Halloween party is a great opportunity to show your skills and talant in any field - paiting, sewing, writing horror poems and reciting them, making costumes and masks, decorating home. Just let your imagination work.
Article comments:
No comments for this article yet. Post your comment now!
