Halloween, a contraction of "All Hallows' Eve," is a traditional festival celebrated on October 31, the evening before the Western Christian feast of All Saints. It marks the beginning of Allhallowtide, a period dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints, martyrs, and all the faithful departed. The traditional focus of Halloween revolves around using humor and ridicule to confront the power of death.

Halloween's Origins

Halloween originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. The Celts believed that on the eve of All Saints' Day, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became thin, allowing souls to return to the mortal realm. To appease these spirits, people often dressed up as monsters to trick them.

Today, Halloween has transformed into a joyful festival where people can dress up as their favorite characters, engage in fun activities, and enjoy a festive atmosphere.

Halloween Activities

In Vietnam, although Halloween is not yet a traditional festival, it has quickly become a favorite event among young people. Common Halloween activities include:

- Dressing Up: This is a key part of Halloween festivities. People wear costumes ranging from ghosts and witches to zombies, cartoon characters, and superheroes.

- Trick or Treat: Roughly translated as "Give candy or be teased," this activity involves children, dressed in Halloween costumes, knocking on doors to ask for candy while saying "trick or treat." If homeowners provide treats, usually candies or cakes, the children express their thanks; otherwise, they may playfully "trick" those who do not give treats.

- Decoration: Homes and shops are decorated with spooky images, such as carved pumpkins with smiling or scary faces, and fake spiders.

- Costume Parties: Many costume parties are organized, featuring music, games, and various entertainment activities.

- Watching Horror Movies: This has become a popular activity on Halloween night.

Halloween Pumpkin

- Meaning: Pumpkins are considered a symbol of Halloween. People carve faces or spooky designs into pumpkins and place candles inside.

- Origin: According to legend, Jack O'Lantern was a greedy and lazy man. After his death, he was denied entry into heaven or hell and forced to wander the dark with a hollowed-out turnip as a lantern. When the Irish immigrants arrived in America, they replaced the turnip with a pumpkin.

The Meaning of Halloween

Halloween serves multiple purposes, including honoring saints who may or may not have gone to Heaven, including the ancient Celtic goddess of the harvest. It is also a day to remember deceased relatives, as the souls of the departed are believed to visit their families on this night. Roman Catholics hold that prayers made on Earth can help cleanse the souls of their sins, allowing them to return to God more swiftly.

Halloween has become an integral part of young people's lives in Vietnam. It is not only a joyful festival but also an opportunity for self-expression and exploration.