Happy Halloween ???

Halloween has its roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian holy day of All Saints.

The ancient Celts believed that the border between this world and the "Otherworld" became thin on Samhain, allowing spirits (both harmless and harmful) to pass through. The family's ancestors were honoured and invited home whilst harmful spirits were warded off. It is believed that the need to ward off harmful spirits led to the wearing of costumes and masks. Their purpose was to disguise oneself as a harmful spirit and thus avoid harm.
Samhain was also a time to take stock of food supplies and slaughter livestock for winter stores.

On All Hallows’ eve, many Irish and Scottish people have traditionally placed a candle on their western window sill to honour the departed. Other traditions include carving lanterns from turnips, sometimes with faces on them, as is done in the modern (American) tradition of carving pumpkins. The American tradition of carving pumpkins preceded the Great Famine period of Irish immigration and was originally associated with harvest time ( enter the bob apples & toffee / candy apples) in general, not becoming specifically associated with Halloween until the mid-to-late 1800s