When Is Halloween: History and 2 Fun Ways To Enjoy the Holiday
Halloween is one of the holidays that many kids and adults alike spend all year looking forward to. Despite being celebrated widely in the United States today, many people are unaware that the history of Halloween actually stretches back thousands of years.
When Is Halloween?
If you’re not from the United States, you may have heard of Halloween but are not entirely sure when the holiday takes place. Halloween occurs right in the middle of the fall season in the northern hemisphere, falling on October 31 each year.
What Is the History of Halloween?
If it seems like Halloween is a more recent invention, you might be surprised to know that Halloween actually has an ancient history. The origins of the holiday extend about 2,000 years back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. The Celts celebrated the new year on November 1 and believed that on the night before the new year, the boundaries between the world of the living and the world of the dead became blurred. They believed that ghosts returned to earth on October 31 and marked the day with costumes and a large bonfire. Other groups of people, including the Romans, built on these traditions and brought Halloween closer to the holiday we know it today. Halloween was celebrated in America during the colonial era but spread widely during the second half of the 19th century when Irish immigrants brought their traditions to the new country. Trick-or-treating, which had occurred off and on in some form across the centuries, was revived in the mid-20th century as American children dressed in costumes and went door to door in their neighborhoods seeking candy.
Fun Ways To Enjoy Halloween
Halloween in the United States is one of the most fun days of the year, but there are always new ideas for ways to enjoy the holiday.
Halloween Superfoods “Slime” Recipe
Take your jack-o-lantern to the next level with this Halloween superfoods “slime” recipe. Made from apple juice, organic superfoods powder, fresh pear, fresh apple, green food coloring, and chia seeds, this completely edible “slime” can be used in your Halloween decor or to make your jack-o-lantern look like he ate too much Halloween candy. Your kids will love it!
Offer a Healthier Alternative
Children everywhere might groan at the idea of getting a healthier alternative to candy in their trick-or-treat bags, but healthy doesn’t have to mean boring! Instead of tossing an apple into each child’s bucket, why not avoid food altogether and opt for an inexpensive toy that encourages kids to actively play? Something as simple as a bouncy ball, hacky sack, jump rope, or glow stick encourage the kiddos to play and enjoy the holiday without adding more sugar to their already bursting bags.
