Halloween

Mystical celebration has seen many changes over the years

Atraditional Scottish prayer begs the good Lord above to protect us “from ghoulies and ghosties. And long-leggedy beasties. And things that go bump in the night.”

That’s very true this day. And especially this night.

For this is Halloween, a day with ancient roots in the old Celtic harvest festival of Samhain, a time to take stock of food stores for the coming winter. It was often referred to as the Celtic new year.

The Celts marked Samhain with bonfires, costumes and masks as a way to scare away evil spirits and ensure a mild winter.

In Christian culture, Oct. 31 is All Hallows Eve—where we get the name Halloween—and is the day preceding All Hallows Day, also called All Saints Day.

Over the years, Halloween has been become less of a religious observance and more of a way for children of all ages to have fun.

Many readers will recall the classic 1944 film “Meet Me in St. Louis,” based on Sally Ann Benson’s stories of her girlhood, which featured a memorable Halloween night. It captured the spirit of a turn-of-the-century celebration, where kids in costume built a big neighborhood bonfire and then “killed” their neighbors by knocking on the front door and throwing flour in their face when they answered.

Later, of course, Halloween became more about treats than tricks, with the annual door-to-door quest for candy becoming the main focus. Lots of readers went trick-or-treating as youths. Some still do.

These days you are more likely to see adults in costume at parties and clubs, or children getting their candy at church or community center “trunk-or-treat” events than you are to find kids prowling their neighborhoods. And that’s too bad in a way. A part of growing up that many remember fondly will likely one day be no more.

Oh well. We wish you and yours a happy and safe Halloween. And watch out for those things that go bump in the night.