Modern Halloween

For a full in-depth history of Halloween see our full All Hallows Eve page here, but in summary:

The tradition of Halloween can be traced back to ancient Celtic harvest festivals, particularly the Gaelic festival called Samhain. It was believed that on this night, the barrier between the living and the dead was thinnest, allowing spirits to roam the earth. 

People would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off these spirits.

Over time, Halloween became associated with All Saints' Day, a Christian holiday dedicated to honouring all the saints. The evening before All Saints' Day became known as All Hallows' Eve, which eventually evolved into Halloween.

In modern times, Halloween has become a holiday                                       for both children and adults. 

Children often go trick-or-treating, where they dress up in costumes and visit houses to receive candy. 

Costume parties, decorating your house to be a haunted mansion and pumpkin carving are also common activities during Halloween.

Halloween is celebrated in various ways around the world, with different cultural traditions and customs. 

It is generally seen as a fun and festive holiday to embrace the spooky and supernatural aspects of life.

Gothic culture with its roots in literature, art and fashion, is known for its dark and often melancholic aesthetic. It and Halloween share a fascinating connection, stemming from their shared themes of darkness, mystery and the celebration of the macabre. 

One of the key similarities between Gothic culture and Halloween is their embrace of the eerie and the unknown. Both delve into themes of death, the afterlife and the supernatural, creating an atmosphere of mystery and intrigue. 

Gothic literature, with classics like Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" and Bram Stoker's "Dracula" often explores these themes in depth, while Halloween festivities allow people to play with these ideas through costumes and decorations.

Additionally, both Gothic culture and Halloween provide a space for individuals to express themselves in unconventional ways. Goths often use fashion and music to convey their unique identity, embracing dark colours, dramatic makeup and elaborate accessories.

Similarly, Halloween allows people to step into different personas enabling them to embody characters from the spooky to the fantastical.

Overall, the similarities between Gothic culture and Halloween lie in their shared love for the dark, mysterious and otherworldly. Both offer a chance for individuals to explore the shadowy corners of their imagination, whether through literature, art, fashion, or festive celebrations. 

Embracing the Gothic spirit of both can add a touch of magic and mystery to our everyday lives, inviting us to delve into the depths of our own creativity and curiosity.

Modern-day trick-or-treating typically involves children dressing up in costumes and going door to door in their neighbourhood to collect sweets and other treats. 

Children, usually chaperoned by their parents/guardians, would ring doorbells or knock on doors, often saying "trick or treat" to receive sweets or other goodies from the people who answer.

This activity is done in the evening on Halloween night.

The most common or popular treats to give to trick-or-treaters typically include:

1. Bite size chocolate bars (e.g., Snickers, Kit Kat, Reese's)

2. Sweet/Candy bars (e.g., Skittles, Starburst, Twix)

3. Lollipops and hard sweets

4. Gummy candies (e.g., gummy bears, gummy worms)

5. Mini bags of chips or pretzels

6. Mini packs of raisins or dried fruits (although probably less enjoyed by the recipients!)

7. Halloween-themed treats (e.g., pumpkin-shaped cookies, ghost marshmallows)

Remember to consider any allergies or dietary restrictions when making or cooking treats to give out.