As more people came into the US the customs of different groups shaped how Halloween eventually

was to be celebrated. Some of the first events were public ones meant to celebrate the harvest. People

that lived near each other told stories of the dead and danced and sang.

The Irish and English helped shape Halloween in the 19th century. People began to dress in costumes and go door to door asking for food or money. This eventually became know as trick or treating.

By the 1930's Halloween became a community centered secular holiday. The primary way

it was celebrated was house parties for children and adults and trick or treating.

People have been making jack o' lanterns for many centuries. In Ireland, people made their own

version by carving scary faces into potatoes and turnips. They placed them near doors and

windows to scarce away ghosts and spirits. In England, beets were used. Immigrants that came

to the United States brought these traditions with them.

 

The tale of Stringy Jack is a tale of man that tricked the devil once too often. As punishment

he could not go to heaven when he died and the devil did not claim his soul in hell. He had to

walk the earth with only a piece of coal to light his way. He put the coal in a carved out turnip and has been roaming the earth ever since. The Irish called him Jack of The Lantern.

All Soul's Day celebrated on November 2 is a three day celebration which begins October 31. It is

celebrated in Mexico, Latin America and Spain. The celebration is designed to honor the dead who they

believe return to their earthly homes on Halloween.

Many families construct an altar in their home

to honor the dead then decorate them with candy flowers and the favorite foods of the decreased.

 

The purpose is also to pray for those who have not gone to heaven and need to be cleansed of sins.

It is believed that the dead are not cleansed of sins when they die so relatives must pray for their dead's

soul. This is also a big part of this holiday celebration. It is a Catholic celebration commemorating the faithful souls believed to be in purgatory.