Halloween: past and present

Even+more+fun+than+dressing+yourself+for+Halloween--dress+your+pet%21+Source%3A+Dogs+Today+Magazine

Even more fun than dressing yourself for Halloween–dress your pet! Source: Dogs Today Magazine

Nathan Gillenwater, Photo/Art Editor

 Halloween is known for ghosts, ghouls, spooky stories, and most importantly, candy. But it hasn’t always been this way. The Halloween we know today is very different from the one in the past, and for many reasons!

   Halloween originally was originally called “All-Hallows-Eve,” and it marked the end of summer. It was believed that in this time period, spirits and souls could come into our world from theirs. 

   Artwork from this time was very dark and ominous, and does not have the same childish and fun look we sometimes see today. These looks can be seen through what costumes people wear.

   Originally, people mainly dressed as spirits.   “People believed impersonating the spirits in this way would offer protection from them,” according to metro.co.uk

Now, people dress in costumes with the main focus being about humor or pop culture. 

   Another big change in Halloween is in the way we actually celebrate the holiday. In the past, people wouldn’t just carve pumpkins; they would also carve other things. 

   “In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack’s lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits,” according to history.com

   Halloween would traditionally be celebrated with prayers and poems. Now, Halloween is celebrated by trick or treating, and getting together with friends for parties. 

   But what do people prefer? John Brown, a self-proclaimed Halloween enthusiast states his preference: 

   “The best part about Halloween is being able to go out with friends in really extra and fun costumes,” Brown said. 

   Now that time has passed, trick-or-treating is becoming less popular among teenagers, and parties are the new norm. Some teenagers wish they could go back in time to be a kid again and trick-or-treat. 

      “I’d probably stay the [age] I am now and go to a Halloween party, just because I find that being able to chill and hang out with my friends in a house is more relaxing and fun than going outside and walking around a neighborhood,” Brown said.