We can thank the ancient Celts and their celebration of Samhain for our contemporary Halloween. The Celts believed this was the end of the light season and beginning of dark. They feared that the dead walked the earth this night so they lit fires and wore animal skins for protection.As the tradition continued to develop, disguises and costumes were worn to fool harmful spirits. Carved turnips were fitted with candles to ward off spirits and to to remember souls caught in Purgatory. During the later Middle Ages poor villagers would go door to door begiing food and drink in exchange for a promise to pray for the dead.
Thanks to these 2000 year old customs, we now have kids dressed like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Zombies standing at our door demanding Snickers and Hershey Bars.
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