halloween

[mike171058]

why is halloween so called

[Famous5]

It's short for All Hallows Even, the night before All Saints Day. In the old Celtic calendar October 31 was the last night of the year, the night of all the witches.

[Hgrove]

In addition to above, Hallows comes from an old English word meaning holy.  By the way, I am slightly bemused by the emphasis on witches etc., because it seems to me that the eve of All Saints' Day is a *Christian* festival.

[Wraith]

All Hallows Eve or Hallowe'en preceded All Hallows (meaning saint), which is now called All Saints Day in the Christian calendar. It was a time when witches, fairies and goblins were said to wreak mischief. Masks and disguises were worn, especially by those returning from huts in the hills to the family home for the winter, so that evil spirits would not recognise them and spirit them away. Faces were blackened with soot and clothes worn inside out or back to front as a disguise. Disorder ruled. People played tricks and children were allowed to go from house to house begging food, trick or treating. Turnip heads holding a lighted candle were placed in windows to frighten off evil spirits (in America the pumpkin took over this role).