Halloween is a holiday celebrated each year on October 31, and Halloween 2023 will occur on Tuesday, October 31. The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints. Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating treats. link to History Channel Halloween 2023: Origins, Meaning & Traditions | HISTORY  

Movies: There are thousands of movies related to Halloween. The purpose of all these movies is to scare you. Remember Dracula, Frankenstein, vampires and hundreds of other characters to scare you.  

Jacko lantern history: A jack-o’-lantern is a carved lantern, most made from a pumpkin, or formerly a root vegetable such as a rutabaga or turnip. Jack-o’-lanterns are associated with the Halloween holiday. Its name comes from the phenomenon of strange lights flickering over peat bogs, called jack-o’-lanterns. It is suggested that the name also has ties to the Irish legend of Stingy Jack, a drunkard who bargains with Satan and is doomed to roam the Earth with only a hollowed turnip to light his way. The Irish immigrants brought this tradition to America where pumpkins were used instead of turnips as they were more readily available.  Today, carving pumpkins is an integral part of Halloween celebrations in America. Link to History Channel How Jack O’Lanterns Originated in Irish Myth | HISTORY 

My memories: when I was young our parents did not have to be concerned about their children running around the neighborhood after dark. Our purpose was to collect as many goodies as possible. The only rule do not cross the busy streets. There were a busy street two blocks west of us and two blocks south of our home. East and north had no limits. We used pillowcases to collect our bounty. That plastic jack o lantern was just not big enough. We couldn’t go trick-or-treating until evening supper was eaten. We would rush to eat and get out as soon as possible and we had to wait until it got dark. After a hurried meal we started. First, the block we lived in and then the blocks west and south of our home. Then the large area north and east of us. Normally we would start around six and finish around eight-thirty. The pillowcase would be close to half full and would last close to Thanksgiving before the Halloween bounty was gone. Most gave out packaged candy and a few gave out apples or oranges, Boo!  

We also carved the traditional jack o lantern. They were really crappy. Our artistic skills were missing. Then the burning candle in the pumpkin gave off a bad odor. All costumes were hand made. No store boughten costumes for us.  

Sales: Total Halloween spending is expected to reach a record $12.2 billion (about $38 per person in the US), exceeding last year’s record of $10.6 billion (about $33 per person in the US), according to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics. A record number of people (73%) will participate in Halloween-related activities this year, up from 69% in 2022. link to NRF NRF | Halloween Spending to Reach Record $12.2 Billion as Participation Exceeds Pre-Pandemic Levels Halloween ranks seventh in holiday spending.  

Past and present: when I was young you did not have safety concerns compared to the present day. Our parents did not have to check our bounty for unsafe items. This era was before the razor blades in fruit and to have concern about opened candy. Our parents did not have to go with us like you see many times these days. You would hear about vandalism but very seldom saw any. In conclusion, I will take my memories of Halloween over the ones I see and hear about today’s Halloween events.