It’s getting close to Halloween, when you see celebrities in Halloween dress or friends invite you to a costume party. Halloween Day is less than a month away and it falls on a Sunday. Time is of the essence in planning for the one of the most enjoyable nights of the year and we hope you have a scary good time. Halloween isn’t just fun for kids nowadays; it’s also entertaining for adults.
Halloween is an annual holiday observed on October 31. It has roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian holiday All Saints’ Day, but is today largely a secular celebration. Common Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, wearing costumes and attending costume parties, carving jack-o’-lanterns, ghost tours, bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted attractions, committing pranks, telling ghost stories or other frightening tales, and watching horror films.
History of Halloween, like any other festival’s history is inspired through traditions that have transpired through ages from one generation to another. We follow them mostly as did our dads and grandpas. And as this process goes on, much of their originality get distorted with newer additions and alterations. It happens so gradually, spanning over so many ages, that we hardly come to know about these distortions. At one point of time it leaves us puzzled, with its multicolored faces. Digging into its history helps sieve out the facts from the fantasies which caught us unaware. Yet, doubts still lurk deep in our soul, especially when the reality differs from what has taken a deep seated root into our beliefs. The history of Halloween Day, as culled from the net, is being depicted here in this light. This is to help out those who are interested in washing off the superficial hues to reach the core and know things as they truly are. ‘Trick or treat’ may be an innocent fun to relish on the Halloween Day. But just think about a bunch of frightening fantasies and the scary stories featuring ghosts, witches, monsters, evils, elves and animal sacrifices associated with it. They are no more innocent. Are these stories a myth or there is a blend of some reality? Come and plunge into the Halloween history to unfurl yourself the age-old veil of mysticism draped around it.
Behind the name Halloween, or the Hallow E’en as they call it in Ireland , means All Hallows Eve, or the night before the ‘All Hallows’, also called ‘All Hallowmas’, or ‘All Saints’, or ‘All Souls’ Day, observed on November 1. In old English the word ‘Hallow’ meant ‘sanctify’. Roman Catholics, Episcopalians and Lutherians used to observe All Hallows Day to honor all Saints in heaven, known or unknown. They used to consider it with all solemnity as one of the most significant observances of the Church year. And Catholics, all and sundry, was obliged to attend Mass. The Romans observed the holiday of Feralia, intended to give rest and peace to the departed. Participants made sacrifices in honor of the dead, offered up prayers for them, and made oblations to them. The festival was celebrated on February 21, the end of the Roman year. In the 7th century, Pope Boniface IV introduced All Saints’ Day to replace the pagan festival of the dead. It was observed on May 13. Later, Gregory III changed the date to November 1. The Greek Orthodox Church observes it on the first Sunday after Pentecost. Despite this connection with the Roman Church, the American version of Halloween Day celebration owes its origin to the ancient (pre-Christian) Druidic fire festival called “Samhain”, celebrated by the Celts in Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Samhain is pronounced “sow-in”, with “sow” rhyming with cow. In Ireland the festival was known as Samhein, or La Samon, the Feast of the Sun. In Scotland, the celebration was known as Hallowe’en. In Welsh it’s Nos Galen-gaeof (that is, the Night of the Winter Calends. According to the Irish English dictionary published by the Irish Texts Society: “Samhain, All Hallowtide, the feast of the dead in Pagan and Christian times, signalizing the close of harvest and the initiation of the winter season, lasting till May, during which troops (esp. the Fiann) were quartered. Faeries were imagined as particularly active at this season. From it the half year is reckoned. also called Feile Moingfinne (Snow Goddess).(1) The Scottish Gaelis Dictionary defines it as “Hallowtide.
The Feast of All Soula. Sam + Fuin = end of summer.”(2) Contrary to the information published by many organizations, there is no archaeological or literary evidence to indicate that Samhain was a deity. The Celtic Gods of the dead were Gwynn ap Nudd for the British, and Arawn for the Welsh. The Irish did not have a “lord of death” as such. Thus most of the customs connected with the Day are remnants of the ancient religious beliefs and rituals, first of the Druids and then transcended amongst the Roman Christians who conquered them.
Top Ten Halloween Movies:
1. Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie (2005)
It’s a haunted Halloween and Roo’s new Heffalump pal, Lumpy, joins Pooh and his friends for Halloween in the 100 Acre Wood. Lumpy, is excited to be trick-or-treating for the first time. But the gang’s Halloween seems to be getting scarier than ever after Tigger warns his friends about the dreaded Gobloon, who can turn them into “Jaggedy Lanterns” if he catches them. But, if they catch him first they get to make a wish. Roo and Lumpy set out to catch the dreaded Gobloon, and end up learning what it means to be a real friend. A film easy to follow, this one is less scary and more fun.
For ages 3 and above. Rated G. Running Time: 67 min.
2. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
Join Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang and rock your Halloween! This fun film centres around the classic tale of the Great Pumpkin. Determined to prove that the legend of the Great Pumpkin is real, Linus spends the night in a pumpkin patch waiting for the mysterious Great Pumpkin to appear. While Linus and Sally sit in the pumpkin patch, the rest of the gang celebrates Halloween in the usual traditions. This timeless classic shows the influence of faith, failure and hope in our lives.
For ages 4 and above. Rated G. Running Time: 25 min.
3. Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
Eglantine Price (Angela Lansbury) was training to become a witch. But her preparation gets interrupted when she is asked to care for three orphans – three sibling refugees from London. The kids soon discover her secret and with the help of a magical flying bed, track down her deceitful headmaster (David Tomlinson) to find the spell that will aid the Allies. Set during World War II, the story follows Eglantine and the children as they set out on a magical adventure to find a missing page from the old book her teacher had used to create his lessons. This wonderful family movie with its interesting storyline and funny characters, appeals to people of all ages.
For ages 4 and above. Rated G. Running Time: 139 min.
4. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Each holiday has a town after its name in this fabulous film. And so has Halloween. Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king of Halloweentown, is bored and depressed about living in the dreary surroundings of his native place. So he embarks on a search for something more than the dreariness that Halloween Town offers. When he stumbles through a magical door leading to Christmastown, a joyful, happy place he is overjoyed and brings a little Christmas spirit back home. He tries to convince the bats, ghouls, and goblins of Halloweentown to help him put on Christmas instead of Halloween. Some of the characters may be scary for very young children.
For ages 8 and above. Rated PG. Running Time: 76 min.
5. Hocus Pocus (1993)
300 hundred years after they were hung, the Sanderson Sisters – three 17th century witches (played by Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker), are conjured up by unsuspecting pranksters in present-day Salem, Massachusetts. Alive again, they suck the life force out of a child to rejuvenate themselves and wreak havoc on Salem. The key to their immortality involves three children and a talking cat, who also turn out to be their biggest obstacles. A hilarious movie, “Hocus Pocus” has a good mix of humor, acting, special effects, music, and a fun plotline. Rated PG for some scary sequences, and for language.
For ages 8 and above. Rated PG. Running Time: 96 min.
6. Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge (2001)
Upon turning 13, Marnie learns that she is a witch. With advice from her grandmother Aggie Cromwell (Debbie Reynolds), a powerful witch, Marnie finds herself swept into a world known as Halloweentown. Halloweentown is an alternative world to our own where ghosts, witches and werewolves co-exist. Marnie feels at home in this place filled with sorcery, witches, and ghosts, until some evil warlocks and other shrewd characters start giving her trouble. Together with her family, Marnie battles all these evil forces and saves the world. A Disney Channel production, this entertaining and imaginative film is filled with family values that modern kids can identify with.
For ages 6 and above. Not Rated.
7. Casper (1995)
This Steven Spielberg produced feature film is based on the antics of Casper the Friendly Ghost from the comic strip of the same name created in 1940 by Joe Orolio. The ghosts featured in the film were created through computer-generated imagery. The film tales the tale of a greedy heiress Carrigan Crittenden (Cathy Moriarty) who inherits the haunted Whipstaff Manor and discovers that the house contains a treasure, which is guarded by three nasty ghosts. And so, Ghost therapist Dr. James Harvey, and his daughter Kat, move into the mansion to get rid of the supernatural creatures. Kat makes friends with a ghost named Casper, the nephew of the 3 nasty ghosts. And the rest is nothing short of a joyride, for casper and his gang as well as for us. This fantastic film has become a must-watch for all children and has been widely dubbed as a modern classic. Rated PG for mild language and thematic elements.
For ages 3 and above. Rated PG. Running time: 100 min.
8. Mickey’s House of Villains (2002)
Mickey (voiced by Wayne Allwine) and his pals, Donald Duck (voice of Tony Anselmo), Goofy (voice of Bill Farmer), and Minnie (voice of Russi Taylor) are relaxing at Mickey’s house, looking back at some of their past exploits, when some of cartoonland’s biggest bad guys, whom they’ve battled before, show up. Watch Mickey and his pals(Minnie, Pluto, Donald, and Goofy) fight with some of Disney’s biggest villains like Captain Hook (voice of Corey Burton), Cruella De Ville (voice of Susan Blakeslee), Jafar (voice of Jonathan Freeman), Hades (voice of James Woods) as the bad guys attempt to take over the House of Mouse and turn it into the House of Villains. An entertaining movie with loads of action, this one is for one and all. Mickey’s House of Villains contains many clips from classic Disney cartoons of the past, re-edited to fit the film’s new storyline.
For all ages. Not Rated. Running time: 70 minutes.
9. The Black Cauldron (1985)
A Walt Disney Pictures production, this ambitious, animated tale of sorcery and swordfighting revolves around Taran (voice of Grant Bardsley), a young boy who is an assistant to Dallben (voice of Freddie Jones), a pigkeeper in the mythical land of Prydain. Taran dreams of a future as an invincible warrior, finds himself leading a real-life quest. Taran longs to be a knight, and soon he finds a chance to become one when he is sent out in search of a magical black cauldron which gives magical powers to whoever gets it. Taran must defeat the Horned King (voice of John Hurt) who wants the cauldron to raise an army of the dead and take over the world. In a race against time, Taran must be the first one to find the mysterious Black Cauldron or the Horned King will unleash its power. This film contains some scary images and scenes that may be frightening to young children.
For kids 8 and above. Rated PG. Running time: 82 minutes.
10. Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit
We all love Wallace and his loyal dog Gromit, don’t we? In their first feature-length adventure from animator Nick Park, Wallace (voiced by Peter Sallis) and his loyal dog, Gromit are hired by Lady Tottington (Helena Bonham Carter) to stop a massive tribe of rabbits from attacking the town’s sacred vegetable plots. But her snobby suitor, Lord Victor Quartermaine (voiced by Ralph Fiennes), wants to win Lady Tottington’s hand (and fortune) by showing her that he can do a better job capturing the rabbits than Wallace. Due to his evil schemes, Wallace has to deal with a beastly bunny as well as a heavily-armed Quartermaine. You can find out the rest when you watch the film. With gentle, colorful characters, lots of action and cheeky tributes to movies like King Kong, this is one movie to watch with your family on Halloween. A little slow to start, the plot rolls along quickly in the second half of the movie.
For all ages. Rated G. 85 minutes.
Fashion celebrities in Halloween Costumes:
