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There are many reasons for celebrating Halloween, which differ depending on belief systems and the family dynamics of individuals. Some people reserve this holiday for cruel entertainment while others see it as just another day to spend with their families.

Some of my best memories as a kid revolve around Halloween. Between dressing up and going out with our whole extended family for trick-or-treating, my night always ended happily, with no dreams of the devil or ghosts coming to get me.

While I am a Christian and I think it is wrong to glorify all things evil(such as ghosts, demons, etc.) I do think that some people exaggerate the meaning of Halloween and ban it from their lives to protect their children. Although I do respect the decisions of others, I don't think that a four year old child wakes up on Halloween day thinking of witchcraft and resurrection of the dead. All they care about is the candy and having fun. If society makes a big deal out of something so minor, it will become a big deal.

Now, before you decide if Halloween is for you, it is probably a good idea to understand it's historical roots and where the holiday actually came from. Halloween is by origin a Celtic holiday. It was first celebrated at the Celtic festival of Samhain. Te United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. The Celts held this day as the end of summer and the beginning of winter. At that time, winter was considered a dark time, and many people usually died before it was over. The Celts also believed that on the new year night, the boundaries between the living and the dead world became unclear, and it was easy for people to pass back and forth unknowingly. On the night of the 31st, their sacred Druids would build holy bonfires and collect animals and crops to sacrifice to the spirits of the dead, hoping to ensure their safety.

Later, the Romans added their version of the holiday to the event. It was called Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. Later, the christians celebrated All Saints Day on November 31st and they tried to pass this on as a new version on All-Hallows Eve in an attempt to civilize their Celtic and Roman neighbors. But, needless to say, the church may have succeeded in transforming the name or the holiday, but were unable to rid people of the memory of its dark roots.

Today we have a mixed-up version of Halloween that hold all of these elements. Some group(refered to as Wicka or people who practice witchcraft) still celebrate this day as the anceint Celts did. Others reain completely ignorant of the holidays actual meaning and just use it as a time for fun and fellowship.

Learn more about this author, Lynsey Brewer.
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