Halloween is one of the most popular holidays around the world. As a rule, it is celebrated on the night of October 31 to November 1.
Contents
- What is Halloween, what a holiday, what date does it start?
- What are the traditions for Halloween?
- Where do they celebrate and celebrate Halloween, in which country?
- Scary stories on Halloween night, which one to tell?
- Contests for children on Halloween
- Competition "Quick eyes"
- Contests for adults on Halloween
- Video: "Halloween party, contests"
What is Halloween, what a holiday, what number begins?
If you literally decrypt the name of the holiday , then you can literally get " All Hallows ' Eve " .In translation this phrase sounds like "The Feast of All Saints" .In this case, the saints called the dead ancestors who had gone to the "other world".
A holiday arose on English soil among the Celts, the inhabitants of Ireland and Scotland. This is a symbolic celebration that has no official meaning. Nevertheless,
has deep religious roots .Fascinating and fun to celebrate Halloween is accepted only in English-speaking countries.People have long considered the Halloween a holiday of autumn and the date of harvesting of the last harvests. Halloween was celebrated on the last day of the on October 31 - the 31st. It was believed that on this landmark day, giving all the fruits, soil had the power. In its own way, the earth could not only feed the person, but also to resurrect all the dead that is buried in it.
That's why people at the same time respected and feared Halloween .Residents of cities and villages truly believed that the resurrected dead can come to the "world of living" and disrupt its harmony. For this reason, it was decided in every way "scare away" the evil , so she returned to the ground.
In order for to "deceive" the dead and ghosts, people dressed up in scary costumes and masks, like unearthly creatures. The people believed that if a dead soul sees around themselves "similar", she will not understand where she is, and therefore will not bother the living.
On the Halloween day, was allowed to make noisy festivities, sing songs, eat, drink, have fun and disturb peace. It was believed that this behavior is similar to the one that is present in the "beyond the life". In frightening costumes, adults and children dressed up. Small groups of children moved from house to house to frighten the owners.
Dressed in scary suits, children were allowed to "spare" the owners of houses only if they were treated to sweets( symbolic sacrifice ).Otherwise, they could shower the house with rotten eggs and tomatoes.
What are the traditions for Halloween?
In addition to the basic "childish" tradition of going from house to house in search of "sacrificial sweets", there are several interesting traditions of Halloween. For example, decorate the house and yard with pumpkin ornaments.
Pumpkin is a symbol of the celebration of Halloween. The fact is that this is the last fruit that people gather in the harvest season. Its pleasant "warm" orange color is very similar to the color of the coming autumn, and the taste is rich as the whole fertile year.
Pumpkin should necessarily be present on the table as dishes: porridges, pies and snacks. Pumpkin, as a decorative object, should also decorate the threshold of the house. Its round form is somewhat reminiscent of the human head of the and therefore on the threshold it should "scare away" all incoming guests.
Pumpkin is made in the style of "carving". Carving is an artistic carving for food. From the pumpkin, it is common to cut out the flesh, and in the walls make holes for the eyes, nose and mouth. Inside the pumpkin is put a candle and then, illuminated yellow inside, the pumpkin resembles the head of a demon.
Another tradition of Halloween - making a "food zone". This is the territory of the house, where a table with a meal for the guests is always standing. Accepting all incoming guests into the house is another tradition of the holiday.
Guests need a variety of snacks, sweets and desserts, drinks. By the way, according to modern tradition, these snacks should have an awesome appearance, but must be edible and very tasty.
Wearing Masquerade Suit and making "terrible" make-up is an obligatory holiday tradition. For this, some carefully look for the desired costume and change it every year.
Special fans of Halloween spend not small money on professionally tailored clothes of the favorite character of comics, films and historical personalities, as well as high-quality make-up.
One of the most "terrible" traditions is telling each other mystical stories of .For this, adults and children gather near the fireplace, turn off the lights and light the candles, so that the creates the proper atmosphere of the .But, along with such a custom, there is also a "cheerful" tradition, which consists in arranging entertaining contests for both children and adults.
Where do they celebrate and celebrate Halloween, in which country?
The Halloween party is so popular that it is celebrated almost all over the world. Depending on the country, Halloween is celebrated either "modestly" or very violent and colorful.
Celebrating Halloween in different countries:
In Germany, the holiday is of great importance. It is interesting to know that in the city Darmstadt there is a lock Frankenstein .It is this castle that attracts a huge number of people from all over the country on the night of October 31 and until the morning of November 1st.
Everyone who comes to the castle, tries to stand out smart and "terrible" costume .They also seek to frighten off their appearance not only the people, but also the ghosts. Local residents claim that on the night of Halloween, they see ghosts walking on the roof of the castle every year.
France also celebrates Halloween. All the ceremonial events on this occasion are not in Paris, but in its suburbs - where the most famous Disneyland is located . This day there are the most colorful and large-scale parades with the participation of well-known animated "horror stories".
In addition, on the street you can meet famous vampires and werewolves. All roads are hung with symbolic lanterns in the shape of a pumpkin "Jack."Bars and cafes offer menus that are composed by according to the witch's recipes.
China also celebrates Halloween. Unlike the original holiday, such Halloween for them has the value "day of the remembrance of the ancestors" .Their traditions assume the lighting of candles near photographs that have left relatives' lives.
There is also a custom to put a dish of water near the photos. According to the Chinese, water - adapter to the other world, and a candle or a flashlight near the water can indicate the way to the soul.
In the temples where monks live, it is customary to make paper boats. It can be small boats, and can be impressive sized ships. Such an ship must be put on water and set on fire. It is believed that, guided by smoke and flame, the deceased soul can find its way.
Most of all, this holiday was reflected in the culture and life of USA, as well as in Canada .Scientists have published statistics of residents survey, which showed that approximately 70% of all Americans dress themselves and their homes for Halloween. In addition, it is this holiday in America that sells most of all sweets and sweets a year, even more than on Christmas!
Halloween and are celebrated in the UK .It was from here that once an Irish immigrant "brought" Halloween to America. In the US, Canada and the UK there is one and the same custom for Halloween - walking from house to house and shouting: "Trick or Treat" .It is not surprising, why the huge expenses of the inhabitants of these countries go for sweets, and they are sweets to pay off the threats.
Halloween and in Russia , as well as the CIS countries, are celebrated in their own way. Of course, the popularity of this holiday in these countries can not be compared with its popularity in the countries of origin. Nevertheless, on the night of October 31 to November 1 , it is customary to arrange magnificent thematic festivities, discos and banquets, competitions in carnival costumes.
Scary stories on Halloween night, which ones to tell?
On the holiday of Halloween it is common for to tell the terrible stories of .This is done in order to set the mood for people and try to rally them into small companies. Depending on the audience, it can be "children's horror stories" or real horrific stories.
Scary stories for Halloween in pictures:
Competitions for children onHalloween
An important place at any event dedicated to the celebration of Halloween belongs to the entertainment program. As the children are very fond of the holiday, parents should come up with several competitions for them . Such contests will decorate the children's Halloween holiday and give them a lot of pleasant emotions.
Several competitions for Halloween:
Competition "Scary Fantasies"
For this contest, you should sit all the children at a large table. Give each participant a sheet of paper and pencils. Task: to draw the most terrible monster that could only exist. In advance, explain to the children that there will be several winners and nominations.
For example:
- 1 place - "The most terrible monster"
- 2 place - "The most unusual monster"
- 3rd place - "The most realistic monster"
Award children sweets in the style of "Halloween" or thematic souvenirs: keychain,notebook, markers, soft toy.
Contest "Glass of Blood"
To do this, you should prepare in advance a dark cherry or bright red tomato juice .Task of the competition: drink a speed of "a glass of blood"( juice).Set several glasses in a row and start the test. In advance, explain to children that they drink juice without choking in safety measures. Give the winner a symbolic prize.
Competition "Eat the head"
For this you will need a basin or a large saucepan, a dish. In it it is necessary to pour compote of dark red color: grape, cherry, strawberry. You can use karkade tea with sugar or juice. Peel several apples. In the pulp of apples, should cut out the faces of people: eyes, oval face, mouth and nose.
After dipping white apples into a drink, you will notice how much they resemble the head. Task: Without the help of hands to grab one apple and then eat in the usual way. This is difficult to do. The winner who will make it quickest and easiest, reward with a prize.
Competition "Quick eyes"
The contest is a baton. For the competition you will need several tennis balls of white color, a blue and black marker and a few table spoons.
Each tennis ball should be painted, making an eye out of it. Divide the children into two teams. Assignment of each team: as quickly as possible, relay all eyes from one side to the other. Win the team reward sweets.
Adult contests for Halloween
Adult contests are slightly different from children's ones in that they represent some assignments of the "intimate character of ", where a man and a woman will have to have contact with each other. It's no secret that Halloween wears a little sexual overtones and therefore, competitions are focused on the unity and closeness of people.
On the other hand, contests can be "disgusting", as they will have to do things that in real life people can not agree to anything.
Anatomy contest
To do this, the organizer of the event should be very carefully prepared. From improvised means it is necessary to make the most similar "organs" of a person: heart, liver, guts, eyes, brain and even. .. genitals for especially piquant situations.
Each of the adults in turn should approach the box and without looking to pull out of it one thing, previously calling it. For a correctly guessed organ, one ball is given. The team that receives the most points receives a prize.
Competition "Russian roulette"
For this, there is absolutely no need to shoot at the head from real firearms. You only need a box in which you put the eggs.
The secret of the contest is that they will all be boiled and only one raw. Each participant should go to the box, take the egg and smash it on the head. In this competition, the one who finds a raw egg, he and the prize, wins!
Competition "Scary Exposition"
For this competition, you should use a box of matches. It is useful only that part that is worn on boxes with two through holes. It should be put on your nose.
Two teams participate in the competition. Their task: without the help of hands to remove the box from his nose, dressing himself, and then to the next one. Wins the team that will give the box to the finish quickly. The fun of the contest is that to put the box on the nose is quite difficult and the person curves in all sorts of ways.
"Guess Potion" contest
For this, one participant is selected from each team. Before him, put five cups( you can and more).In each cup is a certain drink .The secret of the competition is that a delicious drink will have a necessarily unattractive appearance.
For example, in tennis juice can be dropped tennis balls in the form of eyes, in a chocolate milkshake of worms made of jelly. The participant who bravely drinks each drink wins and names, what exactly he has drunk.