Halloween 2019 is Around the Corner!

Halloween has officially upon us with it only days away, and there is a lot to look forward to – making the final touches to your costumes, carving jack-o’-lanterns, trick-or-treating with friends, eating mounds of goodies and treats, to the holiday events (parades, truck-or-treats, haunted houses, parties, Halloween costume contests and more).

Where did this tradition come from? Why is always October 31st?

According to History.com, the origin of Halloween can be traced to an ancient pagan festival, Samhain (pronounced sow-in), celebrated on October 31st by Celtic people over 2,000 years ago. They celebrated their new year on November 1st which marked the end of summer and the harvest and was the beginning of the dark cold winter a time of year associated with death. So, the Celts believed on the night before, October 31st, the dead could walk among the living at this time. During Samhain, some of the Celts conducted ritualistic ceremonies, celebrated in ghoulish costumes so that wandering spirits would mistake them for one of their own and leave them alone, enjoyed special feasts, and made lanterns by hollowing out gourds.

Over time, as Christianity took over, the basic traditions of the holiday remained a part of pop culture every year, they simply evolved and modernized.

To read more visit https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween#section_1

Despite its dark and morbid origins, Halloween has evolved over many years from a blend of traditions and has become a favorite time of year for many. After all, when else is it socially acceptable for adults to play dress up.

Today, at least in the United States, Halloween has become another commercialized holiday celebration with all the costumes and candy, ranking 3rd behind Easter and Christmas. The door-to-door trick or treating is on the decline, but the organized Halloween costumes parties (private and commercial) and parades are more popular today then they ever have been.

Thanks to the Geek community and cosplayers, Halloween is an evolved tradition and is here to stay for many years.

Don’t miss out on the many fun activities available to you. Here are some in New England to check out:

• Your town’s local Halloween Costume Parades

• Trunk or Treat in your town

• Halloween CarnEvil Party at Newport Vineyards

• Haunted Hotel @ W Hotel Boston

• The Incredible Naumkeag Pumpkin Show 2019 -- Stockbridge MA

• Jack O Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo – Providence RI

• Fright Night in the Park – Pawtucket RI

• Sheep Pasture Spooktacular -- North Easton MA

• Bar Harbor Ghost Tours -- Bar Harbor ME

• Ghosts & Legends Trolley Tour – Salem MA

• Sleepy Hollow: A Legendary Outdoor Experience – Sturbridge MA

• Classic Poems for All Hallows’ Eve – Salem MA

• H.P. Lovecraft Walking Tour -- Providence RI

• Haunted Hayride at Witch’s Woods – Westford MA

• Hysteria: Ghost Stories at Salem Haunted Happenings 2019 – Salem MA

• Pumpkin Train 2019 with Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad -- Portland ME

• Not So Spooky Halloween | Edaville Family Theme Park – Carver, MA

• Haunted Places in Cumberland, RI Library

This Elder Geek will be participating in the Norton, MA Halloween Parade on October 27th and then October 31st at Personal Best Karate Mystery Halloween in Easton, MA. At the Mystery Halloween there will be fun activities, puzzles to solve, prizes to win, costume contest and for treats there will candy and comic books.

Tell us what you are doing this during Halloween?

Have a safe and fun filled Halloween!

Tiberius Stark

Elder Geek of the Geek Clan