Assignment 17

Halloween, also known as All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly celebration. Observed on October 31, is the eve of the feast of All Saints. According to many scholars, it was originally influenced by western European harvest festivals and festivals of the dead with possible pagan roots, particularly the Celtic Samhain. Others believe that it has Christian roots.
Typical festive Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, wearing costumes, parties, carving pumpkins, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted attractions, playing pranks, telling scary stories, and watching horror films.
Though the origin of the word Halloween is Christian, the holiday is commonly thought to have pagan roots.
Some folklorists think its origin is the Roman feast of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds. But Halloween it is more typically associated with the Celtic festival of Samhain or summer's end. It was held on or about October 31 – November 1.
Making jack-o'-lanterns at Halloween may also have come from Samhain and Celtic beliefs. Turnip lanterns, sometimes with faces carved into them, were made on Samhain in the 19th century.
Halloween is also thought to have been influenced by the Christian holy days All Saints (Nov1) and All Souls (Nov.2).
Halloween came with the Irish and Scottish immigrants of the 19th century.
It was gradually assimilated into mainstream society and by the first decade of the 20th century it was being celebrated coast to coast by people of all social, racial and religious backgrounds. Sense Halloween has been a great american pass time for year and years.