Why do people celebrate Halloween?

Question

I know that a lot of people are going to say because it's fun or because we get free candy but why? Didn't you ever wonder why we don't have any safety problems in any other holiday but this one?

Answer 1

Well, other holidays traditions don't encourage you to go up to strangers' houses and take food from them. But people do it because they are generally sheep-like and if they see others do something and promoting it, they will follow suit.

Like in some African cultures, the older people practice scarification which is really painful, but since the culture promotes it, the young ones are eager to join in. This phenomenon of eagerly joining in the cultural practices of one's society is present around the world. Fortunately, Halloween comes and goes, but those scars last forever. Ouch!!

Answer 2

Sure, it's fun to dress up and get free candy. But if you look at traditions all over the world, you'll see many traditions of dressing up in costume. The most common theme for wearing costumes is to frighten away the devil or evil spirits. Or traditions that have the Day of the Dead, it's believed on that day, the veil between the land of the living and the land of the dead is so thin that the dead may get confused and try to take the living with them. So people dress in costume so the dead have no idea who they are. Probably where the idea of candy being given out is from Irish or Scottish tradition. Dressing in costume was a form on entertainment. People would give a coin or a treat as a payment for the entertainment. Halloween to me is more than this. It is also a celebration of the end of the harvest season (hence the prolific use of pumpkins and apples).

It's unfortunate that some people use this holiday as an excuse for vandalism and general trouble-making. Just as it's unfortunate that our children have to be supervised so closely now. I remember as a kid roaming the streets in the dark with no adults to supervise. Our only goal was to get candy and try to scare each other. There were no fears of abduction or needles in the candy, or people being injured or crimes being committed. Perhaps there were more than a few smashed pumpkins, or soap on windshields, or even toilet paper in the trees. But these were basically harmless pranks. Today, we do need to keep safety in mind when celebrating this holiday. But we need to keep safety in mind in our everyday lives as well.

Halloween isn't the only holiday with safety issues. Just look at St. Patrick's Day or New Year's. Both are commonly used excuses to get drunk. Of course, New Year's is the excuse to get drunk in formal wear... I don't typically go out on these nights because I don't want to run the risk of coming in contact with a drunk driver. Independence Day is another safety risk. In the states that don't allow fireworks, they're smuggled in. In my neighborhood, it's not uncommon for people to toss firecracker's into people's dumpsters, just to watch them explode and trash to fly everywhere. Some of these fireworks can be pretty dangerous, particularly if you don't use them correctly.

I know I've been a bit long-winded with this answer, but I hope I've helped with some of the origins of why we celebrate Halloween. And I hope I've opened your eyes to the fact that safety isn't only an issue during this one holiday.

So, be safe and Happy Halloween! =)

Answer 3

Excuse me, where do people get off comparing scarification to candy collection and costumes? That's a terrible analogy. I guess people should just avoid all culturally promoted phenomena such as using utensils, wearing clothing, and educating ourselves, etc? And the scars last forever? Yikes. Scarification, scars, SCARY! Sounds like someone needs to work out some deep-seated psychological issues instead of projecting them on halloween, or anything else for that matter.

To answer the question, we enjoy it because it is a tradition. And I agree with the previous points, we have plenty of safety issues during other holidays, so I don't know where you are getting that idea.

Answer 4

The safety part is completely up to the people. A very few look for trouble at Halloween; they enjoy it. The majority use it as a time to be with their family and get their minds off of the stress of life.
When I was growing up; just about everybody in the neighborhood participated. All the porch lights were on with pumpkins carved out and lit on the porch or step. That's when I lived in the city where the houses were pretty close together. A very fun time.

Answer 5

Well we have some safety risks at christmas time and other holdays in December, but some people do it to celebrate the dead in the olden times. Also just a little bit before just plain American halloween day of the dead is celebrated and that's something good to celebrate. It's old history and we want to keep it here for a while and besides many people like candy.

Answer 6

Are you asking the origins of the holiday, or why we continue to celebrate when people go out and TP cars or put Ex-lax into candy??

It originates from a Germanic belief that the souls of departed loved ones wander the earth on that day. So that they would not recognize their earthly family and stick around to haunt them, people dressed up to confuse the "ghosts".

We continue it because it is fun and mischievous... How many people get mugged or robbed during Xmas?? I dont see you complaining about that holiday!

Answer 7

Personally, I don't look at trick or treating, or having a party, as celebrating Halloween. I don't celebrate it, since it is not a holiday. I consider Halloween an occasion. It is a children's day. Halloween is a day for kids to dress up and go out begging for candy. They have fun, and look forward to it each year. I also look forward to it. I like to see all the kids dressed up in their costumes.

Answer 8

That's because this day is the devil's day. All the satan worshipers come out and cause problems. I'm a Christian and i've never really been comfortable with this Holiday. I don't celebrate the actual meaning of the day, I just like dressing up as something fun and getting candy. (like you said). Hope i helped.

Answer 9

No other safety problems?
What about children blowing their hands off on 4th of July?
What about Christmas lights shorting out and causing fires?
What about drunk driving on New Year and St. Patrick's Day?

Answer 10

To save like $10 buying you're kids candy- LOL!