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designated the observance of All Saints’ Day as a day to exalt the saints. Traditionally All Saints’ Day was celebrated in May. Because the Celts were reluctant to give up their Samhain end-of-summer celebration, however, the Church blended and fused Samhain with All Saints’ Day to evolve what is now known as the Eve of All Saints, Eve of All Hallows, or Hallow Eve, celebrated in the fall. The

name eventually became Halloween. n Celebrating Halloween Costumes and Trick-or-Treating

Although children today do not dress up in order to hide from evil spirits, they are unknowingly carrying on a Celtic tradition by wearing costumes. Modern-day Halloween costumes, though not as grotesque as those made of animal heads and skins worn during Samhain, still tend to favor frightening subjects such as monsters, witches, skeletons, ghosts, and beasts. In addition, funny and contemporary costumes, such as cartoon characters, celebrities, objects, superheroes, and politicians, are also popular. Dressed in these costumes children go trick-or-treating. Trick-or-treating

p Costumed participants march during a Halloween parade in Kawasaki, Japan.

Origins and Celebrations of Halloween n

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