Halloween party celebrated in Arabian Ranches 31st Oct. – Dubai.

Dubai Oct 31 : While Halloween is no where near as popular in Dubai as it is in North-America,  Dubai still have fair share of fun parties and events to please the homesick expat.  Trick ‘r’ treating is getting increasingly popular in Dubai’s expat communities such as The Springs, The Meadows, and Arabian Ranches.

Many parents choose to host Halloween parties at home with their little ones and friends.

The shops are already filling up with Halloween decorations, sweeties and costumes.

Halloween History

Halloween is on October 31st, the last day of the Celtic calendar. It was originally a pagan holiday, honoring the dead. Halloween was referred to as All Hallows Eve and dates back to over 2000 years ago.

All Hallows Eve is the evening before All Saints Day, which was created by Christians to convert pagans, and is celebrated on November 1st. The Catholic church honored saints on this designated day.

Origin of Halloween

While there are many versions of the origins and old customs of Halloween, some remain consistent by all accounts. Different cultures view Halloween somewhat differently but traditional Halloween practices remain the same.

Halloween culture can be traced back to the Druids, a Celtic culture in Ireland, Britain and Northern Europe. Roots lay in the feast of Samhain, which was annually on October 31st to honor the dead.

Samhain signifies “summers end” or November. Samhain was a harvest festival with huge sacred bonfires, marking the end of the Celtic year and beginning of a new one. Many of the practices involved in this celebration were fed on superstition.

The Celts believed the souls of the dead roamed the streets and villages at night. Since not all spirits were thought to be friendly, gifts and treats were left out to pacify the evil and ensure next years crops would be plentiful. This custom evolved into trick-or-treating.

Photo  : Uday H K

 Report : H.S.