Why We Celebrate Halloween

Children enjoy dressing up in costumes, while houses stock candy for the trick-or-treaters. Parties are held and those who want to be frightened tour haunted houses. If you ask the average person where Halloween came from, you might receive a blank expression. Why do we celebrate Halloween?

Halloween’s history is shrouded in the mists of time. Some believe that the Celtic festival of Samhain is the foundation for Halloween. The Celts, (who lived in the UK, Ireland, and Northern France), celebrated their New Year on November first and Samhain was celebrated the night before.

The Celts believed that the New Year marked the end of summer. It signified harvest time and the start of the cold, dark winter months. Winter represented death to the Celts. They also believed that on the night before, the ghosts of the deceased returned to earth during the transition night.

Trick-or-Treating has several possible origins. The most likely is the English All Souls Day parades. It was traditional to feed the poor who asked for them pastries called soul cakes. The other possible source was from a tradition of leaving food on the doorstep to keep wandering ghosts from entering the dwelling.

Costumes also have several possible beginnings. European people, as well as Celtic people, saw that winter was a frightening time. Running out of food and starvation were very real dangers. The dark and cold were dangers that could invite death. When they reached the start of this season, many believe that the dead returned as ghosts. By wearing masks and costumes, it was believed that the dead would not recognize the living.

Scottish and Irish immigrants brought Halloween to the United States in the early 1800s. Most of the spookiness and scariness of the holiday was forgotten and a sense of fun and community was added. While costumes and scary scenes are still involved, it is now done out of fun rather than actual fright.

Planning your Fall Getaway

As we move from summer to fall, there are a number of travel opportunities well worth considering. Here are a number of ways to celebrate the season with a vacation getaway:

Autumn Foliage Tours

There is nothing quite as spectacular in the northern part of the United States as watching the beautiful colors of the trees as the weather begins to cool and the daylight hours begin to shorten. Some states are famous for the spectacular color displays of their foliage. Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and Rhode Island have been rated as having the most spectacular fall foliage. Scenic tours are available, as are self directed driving tours. One of the more famous drives is New Hampshire’s Kancamagus Scenic Byway.

Other areas with spectacular fall colors include the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina, The Ozarks, Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, and the Lost Maples Natural Area in Texas.

Halloween Festivities

Halloween used to be a holiday mostly for children. That has changed! Now, Haloween has become an adult holiday as well. New York City, Las Vegas and West Hollywood have become must-see hotspots for Halloween parties.

New York City

New York’s Village Halloween Parade is by far the largest parade open to anyone in a costume. Watch bands, puppets and dancers parade through Greenwich Village. Events International has chosen this Halloween parade as the “greatest event on earth” for October 31. Citysearch ranked this event as the third most popular event in New York City.

Las Vegas

While Las Vegas is always fun, Halloween brings out the partying in everybody. While the “Fetish and Fantasy Halloween Ball” is not for the family, The Travel Channel has listed it as one of the top ten events in the world. And Maxim Magazine has listed it as ‘one of the five events to see before you die’.

Many of the casinos take part in the Haunted Vegas Tour. The tour starts at the Greek Islands Hotel and Casino.

West Hollywood

Santa Monica Boulevard is the focus point of the Halloween celebration in West Hollywood. The large gay and lesbian population dresses up for the occasion with events like the “Drag Race” (in high heels), a “doggy costume” contest for your pet dog, and a costume party over Halloween. West Hollywood markets the event as the largest outdoor Halloween event in the world.

Thanksgiving

While Thanksgiving is still the number one travel holiday in the United States, with families traveling to their home towns to meet and celebrate with friends and family, it is also becoming a more popular vacation time. Some areas to consider are:

Plymouth Massachusetts:

Plymouth, the site of the first celebrated Thanksgiving, is a natural place to consider for your Thanksgiving travels. During the week before Thanksgiving, Plymouth holds a parade titled “America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Parade”. At the same time, don’t miss the New England Food Festival.

New York City

Every Thanksgiving, Macys’ hosts the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Join the two million people who stand on the sidewalks to watch the floats and balloons pass by. If you plan early, you may find a hotel room with a view of the parade. There’s nothing like seeing these amazing balloons at eye level!

San Francisco

The main reason to come to San Francisco for Thanksgiving is actually the Friday following Thanksgiving – sales and shopping! If you want to see some truly unique gift ideas, then travel to Union Square, where blocks of stores provide an unparalleled shopping experience. Stay in one of the nearby hotels to unload from your last expedition.