Kids and adults alike look forward to the first holiday after the start of school and the shortest day of the year; the fall equinox. Approaching October 31st, many households are buzzing with costume ideas — will it be scary, funny, or cute? Another decision is all about the second half of “trick or treat.”
Other people prefer the popular alternative among Christian churches and some public institutions; Harvest Festival or Carnival. The size of the event can range from elaborate or quaint:
Nothing is more fun than a Parents and Teachers’ Association (PTA) sponsored “carnival,” with homemade games, grilled food, and a cakewalk.
On the other hand, teens and young adults want to do something more exciting like haunted houses, watching horror movies, and parties.
Chicagoland has events for people of all ages and interests:
- “The Halloween Gathering,” hosted by Chicago Cultural Mile on October 24, offers hours of engaging and interactive entertainment. Families can participate in the mask-making workshops and a children’s costume pageant. The event ends with an evening parade.
- The Navy Pier offers trick-or-treating, family-friendly, and adult Halloween-themed films on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, October 30 and 31. The movies screen at 5:30 and 8:00 p.m. CT.
Halloween’s Origins
Some historians assert the holiday stems from a Gaelic festival, according to some historians. Samhain (a Gaelic word pronounced souən or saw’win) marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the darker half of the year. The festival lasts 24 hours and is celebrated halfway between the fall equinox and the winter solstices, whereas Halloween always falls on the same day.
Conversely, other historians claim the U.S. holiday is a part of Hallowtide, which is the Catholic church’s three-day observance set apart for remembering the dead — the first day is All Hallow’s Eve aka All Saint’s Eve, followed by All Saint’s Day, and finally, All Soul’s Day.
Written by Cathy Milne-Ware
Sources:
C+R Research: HALLOWEEN HISTORY AND 10 FUN FACTS; by Derek Bertelsen
Life at the Clare: Halloween in Chicago: Fun for Everyone!
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Dagny Gromer’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Geoff Livingston’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
