<p>Halloween is the festival for dress-up and fun and&nbsp;is celebrated on October 31 every year.&nbsp;The spooky festival&nbsp;got its start from the ancient Celtic holiday known as Samhain, which fell on November 1 in modern calendars.</p>

<p>On the day, people dressed up and set bonfires on in an attempt to ward off ghosts since it was thought that&nbsp;the souls of the deceased returned to their houses. In this way, goblins, ghosts, and witches—popular Halloween clichés—became connected to the occasion.</p>

<h2><strong>The beginning</strong></h2>

<p>All Saints Day was established by Pope Boniface IV in the seventh century CE, and was first observed on May 13. Pope Gregory III changed the celebration to November 1 a century later, most likely to replace the ancient festival of Samhain with a Christian one.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The day before the saintly celebration became known as All Hallows Eve, or Halloween.</p>

<p>The English word 'Halloween' comes from "All Hallows' Eve", being the evening before the Christian holy days of All Hallows' Day (All Saints' Day) on 1 November and All Souls' Day on 2 November.</p>

<p>Despite having its origins in the Celtic regions of France, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, the festival swiftly expanded to other countries. For religious reasons, the original American colonists in New England were not allowed to celebrate it, but in the Southern colonies, it was somewhat of a holiday. By the 1800s, Halloween had become a part of fall festivals honouring the seasonal harvest, and many of the modern Halloween customs were brought by Irish immigrants who had fled the horrific Potato Famine.</p>

<h2><strong>Trick-or-treat</strong></h2>

<p>Children traditionally celebrate Halloween by trick-or-treating. Children dressed in costumes visit different homes, posing the question "trick or treat?" and requesting sweets or perhaps cash. The word "trick" implies a "threat" to perform mischief on the homeowners or their property if no treat is given. Trick-or-treating for sweets was one of the most well-liked Halloween traditions by 1950.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the National Retail Federation, Halloween is one of the greatest candy sales holidays in the US today, with sales projected to reach over $3 billion.</p>

<h2><strong>Halloween costumes</strong></h2>

<p>In the early 20th century, Irish and Scottish communities brought back the old world custom of "guising," in which a person would dress in costume and tell a joke, recite a poem, or perform some other trick in exchange for a piece of fruit or other treats. The custom, known as "guising" in Scotland, derives from the kids' disguises or costumes.</p>

<p>Halloween costumes have traditionally been influenced by spooky witches, devils, vampires, ghosts, and skeletons. Over time, the assortment of costumes grew to feature well-known real-life figures, well-known fictional characters, and popular archetypes like princesses and ninjas.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Halloween is the festival for dress-up and fun and is celebrated on October 31 every year. The spooky festival got its start from the ancient Celtic holiday known as Samhain, which fell on November 1 in modern calendars.

Halloween is the festival for dress-up and fun and is celebrated on October 31 every year. The spooky festival got its start from the ancient Celtic holiday known as Samhain, which fell on November 1 in modern calendars. On the day, people dressed up and set bonfires on in an attempt to ward off ghosts since it was thought that the souls of the deceased returned to their houses. In this way, goblins, ghosts, and witches—popular Halloween clichés—became connected to the occasion. The beginning All Saints Day was established by Pope Boniface IV in the seventh century CE, and was first observed on May 13. Pope Gregory III changed the celebration to November 1 a century later, most likely to replace the ancient festival of Samhain with a Christian one. The day before the saintly celebration became known as All Hallows Eve, or Halloween. The English word 'Halloween' comes from "All Hallows' Eve", being the evening before the Christian holy days of All Hallows' Day (All Saints' Day) on 1 November and All Souls' Day on 2 November. Despite having its origins in the Celtic regions of France, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, the festival swiftly expanded to other countries. For religious reasons, the original American colonists in New England were not allowed to celebrate it, but in the Southern colonies, it was somewhat of a holiday. By the 1800s, Halloween had become a part of fall festivals honouring the seasonal harvest, and many of the modern Halloween customs were brought by Irish immigrants who had fled the horrific Potato Famine. Trick-or-treat Children traditionally celebrate Halloween by trick-or-treating. Children dressed in costumes visit different homes, posing the question "trick or treat?" and requesting sweets or perhaps cash. The word "trick" implies a "threat" to perform mischief on the homeowners or their property if no treat is given. Trick-or-treating for sweets was one of the most well-liked Halloween traditions by 1950. According to the National Retail Federation, Halloween is one of the greatest candy sales holidays in the US today, with sales projected to reach over $3 billion. Halloween costumes In the early 20th century, Irish and Scottish communities brought back the old world custom of "guising," in which a person would dress in costume and tell a joke, recite a poem, or perform some other trick in exchange for a piece of fruit or other treats. The custom, known as "guising" in Scotland, derives from the kids' disguises or costumes. Halloween costumes have traditionally been influenced by spooky witches, devils, vampires, ghosts, and skeletons. Over time, the assortment of costumes grew to feature well-known real-life figures, well-known fictional characters, and popular archetypes like princesses and ninjas. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Halloween 2023: How did the All Hallows' Eve start and why is it celebrated?

<p>Under-fire New Zealand&nbsp;tax department has been forced to apologise after suggesting a ludicrous idea to&nbsp;teach children 'tax responsibility'. Reportedly, the&nbsp;Inland Revenue Department (IRD) on Sunday took to its official Twitter account to state that parents should stash 33 per cent of their kids' candies&nbsp;as 'lolly tax' this Halloween.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Gearing up for Halloween? Fun Fact: Parenting trends like a lollies tax teach kids responsibility by taking some of their lollies and taxing their trick-or-treat haul," read the tweet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It further suggested that parents apply NZ's top income rates i.e 33 per cent on the children's trick-or-treat earnings.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The tax can be as much as one-third of the lollies “earned” on Halloween. Will you be celebrating?"</p>

<p><img src="https://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/2210/caof9phub8am2gxo.jpg" /></p>

<p>As soon as the tweet was posted, it went viral and drew sharp criticism from most quarters. Opposition MPs also took a stand and criticised Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's stance towards taxation.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-new-zealand-to-tax-farmers-for-burpy-cattle-486724"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: New Zealand to tax farmers for burpy cattle</strong></a></p>

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<p>Calling IRD “the grinch of Halloween,”&nbsp;former leader of the National party Judith Collins said the “spookiest thing this Halloween was a glimpse into the mind of an IRD tax collector."</p>

<p>After receiving criticism, IRD deleted the tweet and came up with an apology and said they were sorry if it offended anyone.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We received some adverse comments online and on reflection decided to delete it. We’re sorry if the tweet offended,” read the tweet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This is not the first time that New Zealand has made the headlines in recent times for its rather bizarre policies.&nbsp;As reported by WION, last month, it became the first country to tax cattle burps and urine emissions to control agricultural emissions.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-becomes-the-first-country-to-impose-agriculture-tax-to-curb-emission-524367"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;New Zealand set to be first nation to tax farmers for cattle burps, urine emissions</strong></a></p>

<p>PM Jacinta Ardern announced the scheme, according to&nbsp;which,&nbsp;farmers will have to pay for their gas emissions including the methane released by cows and nitrous oxide emitted through livestock urine.</p>

<p>No sooner than Ardern made the announcement, thousands of farmers took out protests, carrying placards that read, "We're not going to take it."</p>

<p>"The government's ideological commitment to punitive and counterproductive emissions taxes on food production is an existential threat to rural communities," said&nbsp;Bryan Mackenzie,&nbsp;the protest organiser.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/were-not-going-to-take-it-thousands-of-farmers-in-new-zealand-protest-against-burp-and-fart-tax-526944"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;'We're not going to take it': Thousands of farmers in New Zealand protest cattle flatulence tax</strong></a></p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
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Under-fire New Zealand tax department has been forced to apologise after suggesting a ludicrous idea to teach children 'tax responsibility'. Reportedly, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) on Sunday took to its official Twitter account to state that parents should stash 33 per cent of their kids' candies as 'lolly tax' this Halloween.

Under-fire New Zealand tax department has been forced to apologise after suggesting a ludicrous idea to teach children 'tax responsibility'. Reportedly, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) on Sunday took to its official Twitter account to state that parents should stash 33 per cent of their kids' candies as 'lolly tax' this Halloween. “Gearing up for Halloween? Fun Fact: Parenting trends like a lollies tax teach kids responsibility by taking some of their lollies and taxing their trick-or-treat haul," read the tweet. It further suggested that parents apply NZ's top income rates i.e 33 per cent on the children's trick-or-treat earnings. "The tax can be as much as one-third of the lollies “earned” on Halloween. Will you be celebrating?" As soon as the tweet was posted, it went viral and drew sharp criticism from most quarters. Opposition MPs also took a stand and criticised Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's stance towards taxation. WATCH | Gravitas: New Zealand to tax farmers for burpy cattle × Calling IRD “the grinch of Halloween,” former leader of the National party Judith Collins said the “spookiest thing this Halloween was a glimpse into the mind of an IRD tax collector." After receiving criticism, IRD deleted the tweet and came up with an apology and said they were sorry if it offended anyone. “We received some adverse comments online and on reflection decided to delete it. We’re sorry if the tweet offended,” read the tweet. This is not the first time that New Zealand has made the headlines in recent times for its rather bizarre policies. As reported by WION, last month, it became the first country to tax cattle burps and urine emissions to control agricultural emissions. Read more: New Zealand set to be first nation to tax farmers for cattle burps, urine emissions PM Jacinta Ardern announced the scheme, according to which, farmers will have to pay for their gas emissions including the methane released by cows and nitrous oxide emitted through livestock urine. No sooner than Ardern made the announcement, thousands of farmers took out protests, carrying placards that read, "We're not going to take it." "The government's ideological commitment to punitive and counterproductive emissions taxes on food production is an existential threat to rural communities," said Bryan Mackenzie, the protest organiser. Read more: 'We're not going to take it': Thousands of farmers in New Zealand protest cattle flatulence tax (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

After 'cattle fart' tax, NZ authorities suggest Halloween 'lollipop tax'. Face instant backlash

<p>October 31st is just around the corner. And, we all know what it means! It's time to get our spooky costumes out of our closets and dress up for some trick-or-treating. In no time, we will see the streets getting decorated with pumpkins, nets and inflated vampires. Clubs and restaurants will get filled with smoke machines, photo bars and paint stations. And, not just kids but adults, too, will get to celebrate the secular holiday with their friends and family. But before we get into the holiday mode and start celebrating, let's learn a bit more about its history, significance and more.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>History and significance of Halloween</h2>

<p>The word 'Halloween' can be traced back to medieval Christianity and is a short form of All Hallows' Eve which means hallowed evening. According to one theory, the history of Halloween dates back to a pagan festival called Samhain. The word hallow, which is derived from the Middle and Old English words, means holy. As a noun, it can also mean saint. Back in the day, the Christian holiday we now know as All Saints' Day was called All Hallows' Day, and the day before All Hallows' Day was called All Hallows' Eve. That three-word name eventually got shortened to Halloween.</p>

<p>The ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain, which used to be scheduled every year on November 1 but kicked off the evening before, is regarded as the earliest known root of the secular Halloween traditions. The day marked an important time of year as seasons changed, leaves turned vibrant autumn shades, temperatures dropped, and people started to pull out sweaters and jackets. However, observers also believed that on Halloween, the boundary between this world and the next became thin, enabling spirits from other dimensions to connect with us. This is also where Halloween gained&nbsp;its "haunted" connotations.</p>

<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-_-celeb-inspired-halloween-looks-that-are-equal-parts-spooky-and-stylish-526219" hreflang="en">7 celeb-inspired Halloween looks that are equal parts spooky and stylish</a></p>

<p>During the Samhain festival, the souls of the dead were believed to return to earth to visit their homes. To welcome their loved ones back to their homes, people used to decorate their houses and make delicious food at home. While to scare away evil spirits, people used to&nbsp;set bonfires on hilltops, and they sometimes wore masks and other disguises to avoid being recognized by the evil spirits. People used to dress up as&nbsp;witches, hobgoblins, fairies, and demons to dodge spirits.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Over time, as Christianity took over society and the pagan traditions started to disappear, the Wiccan&nbsp;undertones of the holiday reduced while&nbsp;the basic traditions of the holiday remained a part of pop culture. In short, the holiday simply evolved and modernized.</p>

<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-halloween-optical-illusion-makeup-looks-that-will-make-your-jaws-drop-526476" hreflang="en">Halloween optical illusion makeup looks that will make your jaws drop</a></p>

<h2>Some facts about Halloween&nbsp;</h2>

<ul>
	<li>To celebrate Halloween, trick-or-treaters hop from house to house and&nbsp;threaten people that they will pull a harmless trick on them if they do not receive a treat, which is usually chocolate or&nbsp;candy. This tradition dates back to the medieval times</li>
	<li>Back in the 18th century, single ladies used Halloween traditions to find their romantic match. Women used to throw apple peels over their shoulders, hoping to see their future husband’s initials in the pattern when they landed</li>
	<li>Halloween is the second largest commercial holiday in Unites Staes, second only to Christmas</li>
	<li>The origin of the tradition of carving scary faces on pumpkins comes from an Irish myth about Stingy Jack, who tricked the Devil for his own monetary gain and as a result, got sentenced to roam the earth for eternity</li>
</ul>


October 31st is just around the corner. And, we all know what it means! It's time to get our spooky costumes out of our closets and dress up for some trick-or-treating.

October 31st is just around the corner. And, we all know what it means! It's time to get our spooky costumes out of our closets and dress up for some trick-or-treating. In no time, we will see the streets getting decorated with pumpkins, nets and inflated vampires. Clubs and restaurants will get filled with smoke machines, photo bars and paint stations. And, not just kids but adults, too, will get to celebrate the secular holiday with their friends and family. But before we get into the holiday mode and start celebrating, let's learn a bit more about its history, significance and more. History and significance of Halloween The word 'Halloween' can be traced back to medieval Christianity and is a short form of All Hallows' Eve which means hallowed evening. According to one theory, the history of Halloween dates back to a pagan festival called Samhain. The word hallow, which is derived from the Middle and Old English words, means holy. As a noun, it can also mean saint. Back in the day, the Christian holiday we now know as All Saints' Day was called All Hallows' Day, and the day before All Hallows' Day was called All Hallows' Eve. That three-word name eventually got shortened to Halloween. The ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain, which used to be scheduled every year on November 1 but kicked off the evening before, is regarded as the earliest known root of the secular Halloween traditions. The day marked an important time of year as seasons changed, leaves turned vibrant autumn shades, temperatures dropped, and people started to pull out sweaters and jackets. However, observers also believed that on Halloween, the boundary between this world and the next became thin, enabling spirits from other dimensions to connect with us. This is also where Halloween gained its "haunted" connotations. Also read: 7 celeb-inspired Halloween looks that are equal parts spooky and stylish During the Samhain festival, the souls of the dead were believed to return to earth to visit their homes. To welcome their loved ones back to their homes, people used to decorate their houses and make delicious food at home. While to scare away evil spirits, people used to set bonfires on hilltops, and they sometimes wore masks and other disguises to avoid being recognized by the evil spirits. People used to dress up as witches, hobgoblins, fairies, and demons to dodge spirits. Over time, as Christianity took over society and the pagan traditions started to disappear, the Wiccan undertones of the holiday reduced while the basic traditions of the holiday remained a part of pop culture. In short, the holiday simply evolved and modernized. Also read: Halloween optical illusion makeup looks that will make your jaws drop Some facts about Halloween To celebrate Halloween, trick-or-treaters hop from house to house and threaten people that they will pull a harmless trick on them if they do not receive a treat, which is usually chocolate or candy. This tradition dates back to the medieval times Back in the 18th century, single ladies used Halloween traditions to find their romantic match. Women used to throw apple peels over their shoulders, hoping to see their future husband’s initials in the pattern when they landed Halloween is the second largest commercial holiday in Unites Staes, second only to Christmas The origin of the tradition of carving scary faces on pumpkins comes from an Irish myth about Stingy Jack, who tricked the Devil for his own monetary gain and as a result, got sentenced to roam the earth for eternity

Halloween 2022: History, significance, facts and much more