The horror of Halloween is in the air and RawCritics is all you need to make it especially frightful. Throughout the month of October we will bring you thrills and chills as you learn what movies you should watch this month, our top 10 gruesome death scenes, which Zombie movie we consider to be the best, and much, much more (cue the Vincent Price laugh). Stop back next week for our feature, 31 Movies for Halloween, where we give you the run down on what movies we recommend for the month of October.  

  But to kick this month off right, we have provided you with a rundown of what exactly is Halloween? It’s a night steep in tradition and folklore and many of us don’t even know why we perform the rituals that we do. Do you know why we carve Jack-o-lanterns, dress in costumes, and hand out candy?  Each one serves to protect us from harm. Could there be something lurking in the shadows?  If you don’t follow the rules you may end up the next…victim. Do you really want to risk it? 

  Halloween reminds us to respect our dead and never forget that the world could be a dangerous place.

A brief history:
  The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in parts of Europe, celebrated the New Year on November 1st. This day marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the dark, cold winter to come. This was particularly difficult as snow was associated with the death of the food supply and unfortunately a few starving, cold people. 

On the night of October 31st, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to Earth as the boundary between the worlds became blurred.  Celts thought that the presence of the spirits caused trouble for the living by damaging their crops and causing havoc, but it also made it easier for the Celtic priests to make predictions about the future. With the bleak Europe winters, any good news about the future gave hope to the people.

  To commemorate the event, Druids (Celtic priests), built huge sacred bonfires where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to their deities.

Dressing in costumes:
  During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins to disguise themselves as demons, witches, faeries, goblins and other frightful spirits so the supernatural entities wouldn’t know they were human. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.

Handing out candy:
  Trick or Treat originated with people in order to keep ghosts away from their houses. People would place bowls of food, tobacco, and drink outside their homes to appease the ghosts and prevent them from attempting to enter. As time went on, people began begging for alms in the form of soul cakes or fruit on Halloween. To some, these breads represented abundance and protection from bad luck. To others, receiving the cakes meant a soul was released from purgatory. The distribution of soul cakes was encouraged by the church as a way to replace the ancient practice of leaving food and wine for roaming spirits. The practice, which was referred to as "going a-souling" was eventually taken up by children who would visit the houses in their neighborhood and be given ale, food, and money.

Jack-o-lanterns:
  One Halloween night, Stingy Jack, a mean Irish farmer got so drunk that he felt his soul leave his body. The ground opened up and the devil crawled out. He said that he was there to claim Jack’s soul. Jack begged the devil to have one last drink with him, but the sharp mind of Jack only had a sixpence and suggested that the devil (who could take on any shape), turn into another sixpence to pay for the booze. Wanting Jack’s soul, the devil agreed. Jack put the coin in his wallet which had a cross-shaped clasp. Trapped inside, the devil couldn’t get out. Jack offered the devil a deal. If he agreed to leave him alone for another year, he would release him. The devil agreed.
  By next Halloween, Jack thought he was safe from the devil until he was returning home from the pub one late night. The devil appeared from behind an apple tree and demanded Jack’s soul. Jack pointed to some apples in the tree and asked the devil if he’d like one. The devil was confused but agreed. Jack informed the devil that the best apples were at the top of the tree and suggested that he could climb on his shoulder to pick one. As soon as the devil climbed onto a branch, Jack carved a cross into the tree. The devil screamed in anger for being made a fool and pleaded to be set free. The devil offered Jack ten years of freedom, but Jack made the final offer. Jack said he would only let the devil down from the tree if he never bothered him again. The devil without a fight, surprisingly agreed.

  Before the year could reach next Halloween, Jack’s body succumbed to death from the years of abuse and a hard life. Standing in front of the gates of Heaven, Jack was not allowed in. His years of leading an impure life failed to give him entry. Reluctantly, Jack seeking a final resting spot went to the gates of Hell. The devil met with him and reminded Jack of his promise never to bother him again. With a smile the devil threw Jack a lit piece of coal so he could see his way in the darkness that was the void between Heaven and Hell. Jack placed it in a mangelwurzel to use as a lantern to guide him on his eternal earthly trek.

  When the Irish immigrated to America, they found pumpkins were easier to carve and used them to make Jack-o-lanterns. The purpose of these lights are to light the way and avoid the evil spirits which run free on Halloween night.