Halloween is an annual holiday and festival observed on October 31 which includes activities such as trick-or-treating, attending costume parties, carving jack-o'-lanterns, bonfires, and apple bobbing.Historian Nicholas Rogers, on the origins of Halloween, says that is has elements in the Roman feast of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds, and in the Roman festivals of the dead Parentalia and Feralia but that its true origin is in the Celtic festival of Samhain, (pronounced sow-an or sow-in) The Halloween tradition of bobbing for apples is thought to derive from the ancient links with the Roman fruit goddess, Pomona, and a Druid magical rite associated with water. According to the Oxford Dictionary of English folk lore, Samhain was a time for festive gatherings, used as a setting for supernatural encounters. This is the beginning of the Celtic and Wiccan New Year. Samhain represented the death of the summer sun god, Lugh. This festival celebrates Nature's cycle of death and renewal, a time when the Celts acknowledged the beginning and ending of all things in life and nature. Samhain marked the end of harvest and the beginning of the New Celtic Year.Samhain brings in and glorifies the beginning of Winter when the world gets darker and the day gets shorter, the 'dark half' of the year, and the demise of the power of the sun. The triple Goddess - worshipped by the Ancient Britons - is now in her third aspect of the Crone: the keeper of wisdom and mysteries.In Scottish lore the Crone was personified as the blue-faced hag - the Queen of the Winter. She was reborn on every All Hallows Eve, returning to bring the Winter and protect animals through the coldest months. She turned to stone on Beltane Eve. The custom of trick-or-treating may have originated from an old Irish custom of going door-to-door to collect bread, cheese, nuts and apples in preparation for the feasting at

Samhain. The tradition of going from door to door receiving food already existed in Great Britain and Ireland in the form of souling, where children and poor people would sing and say prayers for the dead in return for cakes. In order to protect themselves from any roaming evil spirits the Celts would appease them by offering them treats. The custom of wearing costumes on Halloween is thought to derive from the Celts disguising themselves at Samhain, so the spirits would think that they belonged to their own company. They could then communicate with the spirit world, known as 'souling'.

Guising — children disguised in costumes going from door to door for food and coins — also predates trick or treat, and is recorded in Scotland at Halloween in 1895, where masqueraders in disguise carrying lanterns made out of scooped out turnips, visit homes to be rewarded with cakes, fruit and money. Halloween is the most popular costume event of the year in western society. Halloween originated centuries ago, the Celts would dress up in ghoulish costumes to scare evil spirits away. A jack-o-lantern is typically a carved pumpkin. It is associated chiefly with the holiday of Halloween and was named after the phenomenon of strange light flickering over bogs, swamps, and marshes. The tradition of carving a lantern started in the British Isles however, it was traditionally sliced out of a swede or a turnip. They were created on All Hallows' Eve and left on the door step to ward off evil spirits. An offering or, as we now know it, a "treat", would also be commonly left to placate roaming sprites and evil spirits — otherwise they might 'fiddle' with property or livestock (play a "trick") The name Jack O'Lantern derives from an old Irish tale of a villain who after he died could not enter heaven or hell - a damned soul. So he was condemned to wander the land with only a candle to see his way (some say it was a hot ember from the devil), which he placed inside a gouged out vegetable to act as a lantern. Others believe Jack-O-Lantern was a mischievous spirit who carried a light at night and lures night travellers into bogs or marshes, which were the dwelling places of fairies. Celebratory bonfires are typically designed to burn quickly and may be very large. The name 'bonfire' is believed to be derived from the Celtic custom of burning the bones of the cattle which were slaughtered at this time of year. The bonfires were to warm friendly spirits and ward off evil spirits, and also represented the sun which they wished would return, bringing heat and growth. It was custom to give an ember from the fires to attending families, who would then take it home to start a new cooking fire. These fires were believed to keep the homes happy and free from any lost evil spirits. The Catholic church attempted to replace the Pagan festival with All Saints' or All Hallows' day, followed by All Souls' Day, on November 2nd. The eve became known as: All Saints' Eve, All Hallows' Eve, or Hallowe'en. All Saints' Day is said to be the day when souls walked the Earth. In early Christian tradition souls were released from purgatory on All Hallow's Eve for 48 hours. It is believed that the borders between the world of the living and the dead is thinner on this night - also known as 'Ancestor night' - so souls of the dead can enter the land of the living. Spirits roam free to revisit their earthly homes. The Celts looked to their ancestors to bring them guidance for the coming year and hoped to commune with the spirits at

Samhain. Samhain is considered a celebration of life over death, and a time to remember those who have left the world of the living. Candles would be lit at the graves of loved ones. In Mexico family members light many candles around the graves of their loved ones and lay out special feast foods for the spirits, and remain there all night. It was customary at Samhain to leave an empty chair and a plate of food for any dead guests, so that they would not be offended. At the stroke of midnight - believed to be the hour the dead visited - all remained silent in respect. When a candle flame flickers on Halloween night it is being touched by the spirits of dead ancestors. Samhain was a time for divination and magic, the Druids would foretell the future on this powerful night. Many of the customs were performed by young people divining for their future husbands and wives - apples often figured; their connection with fertility is widely recognized: An old belief is that by peeling an apple on Halloween and keeping the peel in one piece, then throwing it over your shoulder you will discover the initials of a future lover. By candlelight go alone to a mirror and eat an apple before it, whilst combing your hair. Your future love will be seen in the glass over your shoulder. Ducking or bobbing for apples was a marriage divination. The first person to bite an apple would be the first to marry in the coming year. The apostle's opposition to paganism blending with the church: Acts 19:21-41 - Greek Dianic Religion Acts 8:9-25 - Gnosticism Acts 13:4-12 – Sorcery Acts 16:16-18 - Divination