Oh No, Tonight Is Halloween!

Tonight, Thursday 31 October 2013, we "celebrate" Halloween. But if you thought Halloween originated in the USA and then exported over here in the 1970s, it's time to revisit your history books! Actually, it is widely thought that Halloween originated here, in the UK, as a pagan Celtic festival of the dead!

It is believed that Halloween comes from "All Hallow Even" (the night before All Hallows Day). Thus, Halloween is on 31 October, the evening before All Saints Day ("Hallow" being the archaic English word for "saint").

The lanterns, orange and black colours, costumes, black cats etc. all have their roots in the ancient Celtic festivals but one specific Halloween activity most definitely originates from the USA: trick or treat! This is one part of the Halloween industry that we can most definitely not take credit for.

Trick or treating became a Halloween tradition in the USA during the early 1950s following the abolition of sugar rationing. The rest is history.... to the extent that the average UK family expenditure on Halloween is only surpassed by its outlay at Christmas. Halloween now costs more than Easter.

I'd better stop off on the way home from work to buy some sweets......................