It’s that time of year again, it’s Halloween season! Iron out your witch’s hat, harvest your pumpkins, and get your house ready for a spooktacular good time this October 31st! Throughout the world, people are anticipating the fun tricks, treats, and costumes that accompany Halloween each year. But how did these playful, community-based traditions of jack-o-lanterns, costume parties, and haunted houses all begin?
Halloween Origins
Traditions similar to the Halloween we all know and love have been around for many years. Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, is currently celebrated in a number of countries and is widely believed to have Pagan roots. The holiday originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which took place during the transition from fall to winter. During Samhain, people celebrated the end of the harvest, wore costumes, and lit bonfires to deter wandering ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III transformed some aspects of this Celtic festival into All Saints’ Day or All Hallows’ Day. All Hallows’ Eve, now commonly known as Halloween, was an evening designated to honor all saints, martyrs, and the deceased. From these humble Pagan and Christian roots, Halloween has grown to a grand celebration, especially here in America.
Halloween in America
Celebrations of the transition from fall to winter, from life to death, carried over to the colonies with the melding of European and native customs. Though limited, these celebrations were held to honor the harvest, tell stories of the dead, make predictions about the future, and sing and dance. With the arrival of crowds of new immigrants in the late nineteenth century, these Halloween traditions grew in popularity and became a national celebration. Borrowing from European traditions, Americans began to dress up in costume and go door to door for food or money. Soon, the holiday became centered around community and family fun. Now we all look forward to the fall and this festive holiday of family and friends, costumes, games, and yummy treats.
Halloween in Los Angeles
There are so many family-fun activities to enjoy this Halloween season in the greater Los Angeles area. October is scheduled chalk full of harvest festivals, pumpkin patches, costume parties, scary movies, trick-or-treating, and much more. For some fun with animals and Halloween activities for children, check out Boo at the Los Angeles Zoo. Or schedule a trip to Knott’s Scary Farm for memorable scares, laughs, and thrills. If you’re looking for safe trick-or-treating activities, there are plenty of Los Angeles neighborhoods with kid-friendly candy-filled events the weekend before Halloween. Visit Time Out Los Angeles to find the best neighborhoods for trick-or-tricking and enjoying all the spooky decorations and Halloween lights.
Decorating for Halloween
If you’re looking to spend Halloween in your own neighborhood, with friends and family, you can make the holiday extra special with Mobile Illumination’s Halloween Lights.
Our spooky decorations, twinkly Halloween lights, and creative and unique designs will ensure your All Hallows’ Eve is memorable for all. String orange and purple lights along your front yard’s foliage to elevate each and every trick-or-treater’s Halloween experience. Why not go for it with a giant purple spiderweb or a scary, yet inviting group of twinkling ghouls and ghosts?
With Mobile Illumination’s Halloween Lighting design, your fall decorating is made easy due to our hassle free lighting and décor installation. Whether your Halloween heart desires orange and white hanging lights or color changing trim lights, we guarantee a simple, collaborative design process and installation. We hope to scare up some Holiday Lighting fun with you this Halloween! Happy haunting!
*Information about the history of Halloween gathered from History.com.