What is Halloween to you?

Question

With Halloween being the next "big" holiday, I've been talking about it to people at work. It surprises me that so many people have so many misconceptions about Halloween. What do you think Halloween celebrates? (Don't cheat and look it up...just answer with what you already think!)

Answer 1

The devil's holiday!  Black magic, witches, demons, skeletons, horror movies, trick or treat.  Some REAL wicked stuff.    

Answer 2

Well, it is the devils holiday...

But!

I would find it more of a day to celebrate what you wish you were.

And candy.

And you can meet some nice spirits.

Answer 3

It's my BIRTHDAY... true... I was born on 31 October 1939

Answer 4

Well it's suppose to be the one nite when spirits come back to roam the earth. But, everyone turned into costumes and candy!

Answer 5

To me it's just a day for people to get out and have fun. For kids and parents it is going trick or treating or going to a costume party. It isn't a big deal, and it isn't. It's just a fun day.

Answer 6

candy:)

Answer 7

I get the impression you want to know what we think Halloween really *is* and how we celebrate it personally.

You're right about all the misconceptions. The Internet is especially full of misinformation about Halloween. Halloween is the eve of All Saints Day, a Catholic holiday to honor the saints. The next day is All Souls Day and that is the source of the idea that the dead return. Modern Halloween is a combination of a lot of things: folk customs, secular traditions, Hollywood influences, pagan influences (especially Samhain in Ireland), commercialization, and Christian ideas (like the fear of witches and devils). Holidays to honor the dead have been around for thousands of years, and have always been a big deal to people, so the stage was set for All Saints/All Souls long before they were established. All Saints began in Rome where they already had three days to honor the dead: Feralia, Parentalia, and Lemuria.

For me personally, Halloween is mainly a day to enjoy the spookiness and take part in a lot of fun activities. I don't participate in any religious activities, but I would like to go back to my home state to decorate my grandmother's grave and honor her.

But I don't wait for Halloween to come around to make it part of my life. I study it all year long and even established a Halloween group that has monthly meetings.

Happy Halloween!!!!

Answer 8

Just another day.

Answer 9

Halloween for me is a sorta special holiday. sharing scary stories with my friends at school (since we still have school on Halloween). asking people if they're gonna go trick-or-treat or if they're just too old for it. watching my younger siblings get into costumes and take pictures. buying new batteries for flashlights. since im too old for trick-or-treating, i accompany my mom and siblings, holding the flashlight for them and still get candy. rating houses based on their decorations with my older sister. rating other kid's costumes. taking pitures at the dark and checking if there's any "ghosts" in them. coming back home with bags of candies and sort them. yep, that's Halloween for me ^^

Answer 10

everything! scary *** movies and costumes. free candy, getting to roam the streets alone in the dark without getting in trouble. plus my birthday is close to halloween!

Answer 11

free candy :)

Answer 12

supposedly people from spain sacrificed kids on this day and in mexico it the day of the dead

but i just think its an american made holiday for kids to get candy and dress up in costumes

Answer 13

candy (:

and a nice costume:)

Answer 14

an awesome holiday! were poeple dress up in scary things. Ouija boards, spirits are outside for one day, oh and party's!

Halloween is SOOOO FUNN!