Happy Halloween! The house is so quiet; Kel is in the city with her dad, and Alex and Karissa are in their room. My next project is coding a calculator—I’ve already completed the HTML portion, thanks to some guidance from Google. I struggled at first to figure out how to create a calculator in HTML, but I eventually got the hang of it.
I don’t have much to share today. I need to start reading again; I haven’t picked up a book since finishing “Hill of Secrets.” I still need to complete “Race Across Alaska,” so maybe I’ll find time to read this weekend.
I’m taking a break and reading the history of Halloween. Halloween has ancient roots, dating back over 2,000 years to the Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced “sow-win”). Celebrated on October 31st, Samhain marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter, a time associated with death. The Celts believed that on this night, the boundary between the living and the dead blurred, allowing spirits to roam the earth. People lit bonfires, wore costumes to ward off wandering ghosts, and offered food to appease them.
When the Romans conquered Celtic territories, they combined Samhain with their festivals, such as Feralia, commemorating the dead. Later, the Catholic Church designated All Saints’ Day on November 1st to honor saints and martyrs, with All Hallows’ Eve (the night before) evolving into Halloween. Over time, Halloween lost much of its connection to the supernatural and became a community-centered celebration.
Halloween was brought to America by European immigrants, especially the Irish, during the 19th century. By the 20th century, it had transformed into the holiday we know today, with traditions like trick-or-treating, costume parties, and pumpkin carving, reflecting a mix of ancient beliefs and modern festivities.
I’m curious about how my family in the Philippines celebrates Halloween. It seems to be a mixed bag — some family members do not celebrate at all, viewing Halloween as something negative, while others partake in the festivities with candy and costumes. In our area, we don’t hand out candy since we live in the countryside and there aren’t any kids around. They usually head to the next town or the city to go trick-or-treating. I could certainly go for some candy!
