It’s October the 31st, and across Britain and the USA, thousands of children aredressing upasmonsters,ghostsandwitchesand going to theirneighbours’houses to ask forsweetsor to playtrickson them if they refuse.

Many houses havelanternsmade frompumpkinsin their windows. These lanterns havefrighteningfaces cut into them.

What is the reason for all of this? It’s Halloween! To anoutsider, this may seem a strange festival, but it is a very popular one and an important part of the culture in Britain and the USA. But how did it start?

The holiday once had a religious⁴ significance⁵. November the 1st is All Saint’s Day, and October the 31st was believed to be a day when all thespiritscame back to the world of the living. In modern times, this has changed to be a day when children dress up as monsters, ghosts and witches¹.

Once they are dressed up children go to their neighbours’ houses. They knock on the door and shout ‘Trick ortreat!’ Good neighbours, of course, give ‘treats’. These are usually sweets or chocolates.

Bad neighbours, however, may give nothing. If so, then the children play a ‘trick’ on them. This may be a simplepractical joke. However,naughtychildren may do something worse, like throwingrubbishin the neighbour’s garden. Nowadays, of course, most neighbours always give a treat. After all, it’s fun for the children.

Another tradition is to make lanterns from pumpkins³. First, the inside of the pumpkin² is removed. Then, a face is cut into the pumpkin, traditionally⁶ a smiling,devilface. Finally a candle is placed inside, and the lantern is put at the front of the house to keepevilspirits away.

There are many traditional games on Halloween, but the most common is ‘apple-bobbing’. It’s simple to play. Several apples are putfloatingin water. Children then have their handstiedbehind their backs. They then have to try to pick the apples out of the water using only their mouths. Of course, people get very wet and it is very funny to watch.