1. HALLOWEEN
HALLOWEEN

2. HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN
The history of Halloween started:
Many hundreds of years ago, a
people called the Celts believed
that the souls of the dead
visited Earth on the last day of
October. They had a festival in
honor of these souls of the
dead, and they called it
Samhain.
In time, the Roman Empire
conquered the Celts and took
over some of their beliefs as
well. This included Samhain.
The idea that the souls of the
dead visited Earth on the last
day of October spread far and
wide the world.
Many ideas survive in the United
States and in other Western
countries. Halloween is one of
them.
HALLOWEEN
November 1 was picked to be the
day to honor all saints who didn't
already have a day named in their
honor. The day that the Catholic
Church celebrated on November
1 was called Allhallowmas. It was
commonly called "All Hallows'
Day."
The people who started all this
Halloween business many years
ago believed that if they appeared
scary, they would scare away the
spirits of the dead who were
roaming the earth on All Hallows'
Eve.

3. HALLOWEEN IN ITALY
In Italy they make cakes in the shape of beans, are called Beans of the Dead.
In Southern Italy families prepare a special feast for the souls of the departed
on All Souls' Day. The families would set the table with a bountiful meal.
Then they would all go to church to pray for the souls of the deceased. They
stayed there all day, leaving their home open so that the spirits could enter
and enjoy the feast.
When the family came home to find that their offerings hadn't been consumed it
meant that the spirits disapproved of their home and would work evil against
them during the coming year.
In Italy November 1 has become a public holiday.
People may visit their family’s graves to beautify them with wreaths and small
lanterns. Sometimes is sprayed with holy water.
On November 2 or All Souls' Day, Catholics attend a special Requiem masses,
where they remember those who may be close to them that have died.
Prayers for the dead and votive candles are lit to honor their memory.

4. SUPERSTITIONS
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Jack-o-lanterns: According to an Irish legend, jack-o-lanterns were named for a man named
Jack, who could not enter heaven because he was a miser. He could not enter hell either,
because he had played jokes on the devil. So instead, he had to walk the earth with his lantern
until Judgment Day.
Spiders: If you see a spider on Halloween night, it means that the spirit of a dead loved one is
watching over you.
Black cats: Black cats have often been identified as witches’ familiars. Crossing paths with a
black cat on Halloween could be a sign of a witch nearby. If you hurt a black cat on Halloween
and you'll have seven years of bad luck.