Most people think of Halloween today as simply a day when children dress up in costumes and go from home to home to “trick or treat” and collect enough candy to make any parent cringe. Halloween was much more significant in ancient times, however. October 31st was a very important day to the ancient Celts of Ireland, Scotland and Great Britain. No kidding around in costumes and trick or treat bags; Halloween was much more serious to the non-Christian Cults a thousand years ago.

Halloween remains a popular day in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Ireland, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Children get to dress up in their favorite costumes and ring doorbells throughout their neighborhood to collect as much candy as possible. In the United States’ Halloween is the second most popular holiday (after Christmas) for decorating and reaps a huge financial bounty of retail selling of frightening costumes to children and adults alike, decorations and candy. But for eons, the history of Halloween encompased ancient beliefs about the world – both living and dead.

Understanding the history of Halloween can perhaps help you decide what to let your children take part in, and what to keep your children away from. Also, knowing the origin of Halloween and its history can also help Christians view the adult, youth, and child activities associated with Halloween celebrations in the light of Christ’s truth.

What Is The History of Halloween?

Halloween originated among the Irish Celts, Scots and Anglo-Saxons in Britain long before the Christian era. Originally called Samhain, it was a time when they believed the division between the worlds of the living and the dead became very thin and when ghosts and spirits were free to wander as they wished. The name “Halloween” is a shorter form for the Gaelic name All-hallow-evening. Pope Boniface IV instituted All Saints’ Day in the 7th century as a time to honor saints and martyrs, replacing the pagan festival of the dead. In 834, Gregory III moved All Saint’s Day to Nov. 1, thus making Oct. 31 All Hallows’ Eve (‘hallow’ means ‘saint’).

On the night of Samhain, it was believed spirits of the restless dead and mischievous spirits would freely roam about with humans and during this one night spirits were able to make contact with the physical world as their magic was at its height. The Celts believed that by allowing the dead to have access to the world on this one evening, they would be satisfied to return to the land of the dead. The Celtic people would put out food offerings to appease the spirits who might inflict suffering and violence on them and Celtic priests would offer sacrifices, animal and human, to the gods for the purpose of chasing away the evil, frightening spirits. They built fires where they gave sacrifices to the Celtic deities to ensure protection from the dead spirits. Samhain was also a time when it was customary for the pagans to use the occult practice of divination to determine the weather for the coming year, the crop expectations, and even who in the community would marry whom and in what order.

When Rome took over their land, the Samhain was integrated with two other Roman festivals: Feralia and a festival to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. By the time Christianity come on the scene, Halloween had already taken root from the pagan beliefs and was integrated into Christian practices. As the Europeans found their way to the New World, they brought with them their traditions which soon evolved to fit their new country.

Many customs still observed today come from these ancient beliefs. For example, the elaborately carved jack-o-lantern is said to have been named after the Irish story of a greedy, hard-drinking gambling man, Stingy Jack, who tricked the Devil into climbing a tree and trapped him there by carving a crude cross into the trunk of the tree. In revenge for being stuck in the tree, the Devil cursed Jack and made him walk the earth at night for eternity. The jack-o-lantern of today is carved with a scary face to keep Jack and other spirits from entering their homes.

A problem for the Celtic people was… if the souls of dead loved ones could return that night, so could anything else, human or not, nice or not-so-nice. So, to protect themselves on such an occasion, these superstitious people would masquerade as one of the demonic hoard, wearing masks and other disguises and blackening the face with soot to hopefully blend in unnoticed among them. This is the source of modern day Halloween costumes portraying devils, imps, ogres, and other demonic creatures.

Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?

For Christians, the origins, history, and current practices of Halloween has its root in Satan, the author of deception.

He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. [John 8:44]

While some might say that Halloween is now only a fun children’s holiday, it should be noted how much the modern day American practices and modern day witchcraft have in common with the ancient beliefs of the Celtic people. Contrary to some beliefs, the historic Samhain was not a time for witches and the worship Satan. Samhain was the end of the crop season and the official beginning of autumn. The ancient Celts celebrated a successful crop season on Samhain, giving thanks for the bounty of the harvested crops. The satanic celebrations now observed on Halloween is a more recent invention of more contemporary Satanists who have focused more on this season as a time when the dead can easily communicate with the living therefore making divinations and sacrifices more attainable. Modern day Halloween has thus become a mixture of ancient beliefs, occult practices and a highly commercialized children’s holiday.

While some people consider celebrating Halloween to be a sin, others simply feel that Halloween quite simply shouldn’t be a holiday at all! A few Southern states have been known to ban trick-or-treating on Halloween, especially when it happens to fall on a Sunday. Halloween parties are renamed “fall festivals” and children replaced scary costumes with costumes of Bible figures, historical figures, or no costume at all.

Considering that Satan is the father of lies, it can be understood how many are confused and deceived about this holiday. Like Christmas and Easter, both Christian celebrations, the true origins of Halloween, a non-Christian celebration, are eons old and some of the true meanings of the traditions of these celebrations have been distorted over time. In recent times, Christmas appears to be more about presents, parades and feasts than about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Traditions surrounding Halloween have followed the same fate. All too often we think of Halloween merely as a time of dressing up in costumes in going trick or treating around the neighborhood. In antiquity, the traditions of Halloween were of enormous significance throughout Scotland, Ireland and Britain.

Apart from the religious controversy surrounding Halloween, many families have also been struggling with even normally well-behaved children who are driven by unseen forces to destructive behavior. Vandalism and wanton disregard for the property of others is common on Halloween night. Police officials everywhere report a great increase in such activities on Halloween. Worse yet are the horrifying accounts of poisoned candy and fruits booby-trapped with razor blades and needles. Such threats are so real that many hospitals offer free X-rays of Halloween treats in order to prevent children from being harmed. Who but Satan could inspire such monstrous actions on this so-called harmless children’s holiday?

Vic Bilson writes about current affairs and is author of many social commentary websites including topics about Halloween

Some people are talented enough to create their own Halloween costumes while others stick to store-bought. Have fun with your costume this year and go over the top! Make your costume the best at the party!

If you’re dressing up for a Halloween party, you’re naturally going to want to look at some sexy Halloween costumes before choosing the right costume for you. That’s kind of the whole point of dressing up for Halloween. You have the perfect excuse to go over the top and surprise everyone with your sexy alter ego.

You will easily find sexy versions of traditional Halloween costumes. If you’re thinking of being a witch or a devil, you can easily make them sexy Halloween costumes. Some of these costumes feature very short tops or bustiers and mini skirts combined with more traditional costume elements. They also often feature sexy materials like vinyl and lace. Add heels or, even better, patent leather or vinyl tall boots with high heels, and you’ve made the costume.

Don’t forget to add fishnets, which come in white, black, and red. Just know that white are a little harder to see. Consider wearing regular nylons underneath the fishnets for more contrast and to give your legs a more toned look. Black fishnets work with basically everything. They’re like the nude of fishnets. Otherwise, another kind of stockings is necessary. Thigh highs are a lot of fun, and extremely sexy.

Accessories and props will make sexy Halloween costumes. If you’re a devil, make sure you have horns. If you’re a cat, mouse, or bunny, get your ears and tail. The ears actually make a great headband and they also are great for hiding a wig line. Halloween is a fun time to try long wigs (or short if you have long hair).

Using Halloween decorations such as candles, jack o lanters, table cloth and settings, Halloween props and Dracula teeth along with a costume makes it possible to tell a whole story. What character is truly complete without his or her props? No matter who or what your costume is seeking to portray, there is most likely a way to play the part more fully with the help of Halloween

decorations.

One way to come up with a prop idea is to establish a character and think of something that he or she might want with him or her more often than not. Think of a cowboy. He may want a gun, a campfire nearby or a horse (this last prop might have to actually be played by a friend). An angel could do well to carry a harp in her hands, or a fairy would likely need a wand.

On a more creative note, a way to make a costume that seems serious more amusing is by incorporating the right Halloween props. This will be easier for some people than others, for there are just those who tend to get really inspired about some small detail and it takes them far.

Perhaps, in the case of using props to hint at something, act as an insight or to make a sarcastic statement, decide to dress as a friend, a celebrity or a politician. This person might be well known for an association with something in particular. Carrying around an item that suggests that well-known personality trait (an alarm clock for the guy who is never on time, a mirror for someone

vain, etc.) can end up being a big hit as you hear people exclaiming, “Oh, I get it,” followed by laughter.

Halloween began thousands of years ago Celtic people inhabiting the area that is now England, Ireland and Scotland celebrated their new year on November 1st. The Celtic religious order known as the Druids held a great festival each year on the evening before the their new year. This festival was celebrated in honor of the god, Samhain, the Druid god of death and was known as All Hallowtide. The Druids believed in the supernatural and tried to placate the Lord of Death with offerings. This is the action that “Trick-or-Treat” emulates today. The community also sacrificed animals and offered fruits and vegetables so the spirits would keep their distance. The cold and darkness of winter and the presence of spirits are reasons why Halloween is connected with images of death and evil.

Halloween is spooky, but taking Halloween pictures shouldn’t be. From a jack-o’-lantern’s scary stare to frighteningly fun costumes, this holiday offers unique picture-taking opportunities. The tips below will ease your mind about the unusual challenges that Halloween presents for a photographer. And we’ll also show you a few tricks to capture bewitching jack-o’-lantern pictures.

Halloween is a time for both adults and kids alike to delve into their creative sides and dream up inventive Halloween costumes. It is also a time when people want to be something that they cannot be in their everyday lives. Some people choose to use their minds and try something clever, while others stick to the traditional choices of ghost or witch. They also want their costumes to be unique and very different from everyone else’s that they may see on that particular day

Halloween Fun Learn more at [http://www.halloweentopic.com]

As a father, I must admit I have warmed to the holiday, but I still have a problem with all the focus on witches and ghouls and such. A holiday that focuses on scary things still bothers me just a little bit. I’ve been pleased that my children have typically chosen more wholesome images to emulate through their costumes.

This year was different though. I’ve actually been looking forward to Halloween since the middle of June. I planned. I prepared. I thought and strategized about it. But, it didn’t go quite the way I expected. . .

The Garage Sale

Our community has a neighborhood garage sale each June. By planning everyone’s sale on the same day more people attend and the event is more successful for everyone. For several years my son Parker has had a stand selling lemonade, coffee, muffins and cookies, taking advantage of all of the shoppers who came to our cul-de-sac. Last year, my neighbor Jim and I added hot dogs and other grilled food to the menu. People could shop and get a meal too! We had so much fun; we did it again this year.

Only this year, we secretly decided to give the proceeds to our neighbors who have a son with autism. At our annual party, after the sale, we presented them with about $120 (a lot of money when you aren’t selling anything for more than a dollar!) to give to the autism group of their choice.

Trying Again

The mix of the fun we had and the response we received from our neighbors led to another idea – let’s do this at Halloween. Halloween would be perfect we speculated; lots of traffic (since we always have more than 100 trick or treaters), easy to market (through flyers in the neighborhood), and this year Halloween would be on a Friday. It seemed perfect!

Every few weeks the subject came up. We talked about what to serve and how to market it. Jim, who works in the food brokerage business, got sponsors to provide all the meat. As the calendar turned to October we got more serious and the menu was set: hot dogs, bratwurst, hamburgers and homemade chili.

As I worked on the marketing flyer, all the foods became holiday-themed: Halloweenies, Beastie Brats, Haunted Hamburgers and Chilling Chili. We decided to sell soda and chips. We added a place for kids to bob for apples. We would have the candy from five houses for one stop trick-or-treating. We distributed more than 140 flyers. We were raising money for a great cause.

In the final week we even realized we were going to have perfect weather – upper 60′s by “game time.” We had the perfect setup for a successful event.

Halloween is Here

Friday morning Lori and I made the chili. After lunch we finished shopping for the final items. I couldn’t wait to set up! We got everything out – ran extension cords to the street, set up lights, tables and chairs, blocked off the cul-de-sac and fired up the grill.

Two other neighbors were manning the candy – to help the trick-or-treaters get it and to tell them which houses were empty. Parker, age 11, decided to help with the event rather than trick or treat. He would take money and answer questions. Jim would take and fill orders, and I was grill man. We fed the families around us, ourselves and our kids to get the grill going, and they took off to collect candy and good wishes. We were ready.

It got dark, and we had very few trick-or-treaters, and even fewer customers. One mother said she and her son would be back after they were done. We rubbed our hands and prepared for the onslaught.

The onslaught never came.

The Results

By the end of the evening we probably had half our typical number of trick-or-treaters. We sold a little water and soda. We sold a few grilled items. We made $32 (before expenses).

It was a tough night for me. In retrospect, I was as discouraged and disappointed as I can remember being in a long time. It was Sunday before I was really back to normal.

The Lessons

I shook myself out of my self-imposed funk by thinking back on what we did – and what we accomplished. $32. I didn’t even count it until Monday. Truth be told, it was more than I expected at that point. My reflection helped me realize that several positive things happened:

o We had fun both planning and doing the event.

o We strengthened neighborhood relationships.

o We taught our children a lesson about caring and doing things for others – through our actions, not our checkbooks.

o We made a memory we will talk about for years.

o We learned what might have to change if we do this again on Halloween!

o I got the subject for this essay.

o A neighborhood shelter got lots of hamburger and hot dog buns.

o And we did add $32 to the Riley Children’s Hospital Autism Unit to help them do their work.

However, the best result for me was the lesson of reflection. All the value created by the event was overshadowed in my mind when we didn’t reach our goal. My personal goal had been $300. So, in reality, we did about 11% of that goal. I lost sight of all the good by focusing only on the desired outcome.

If you had asked me Saturday morning if the event was a success, I would have grimaced and quickly said no. If you ask me now, I will say that we didn’t raise much money, but it was fun, and we learned a lot. Anytime you can have fun while learning is a good experience in my book.

We all suffer defeats, challenges and disappointments. Sometimes they are large; sometimes they aren’t. Big or small, I believe there is value and learning in every one of them. Our goal has to be to find those lessons. We only find them by reflecting on the experience and expecting to find them.

Maybe you find yourself reeling from a setback as you read this. If so, please take the message to heart. Maybe the message is more theoretical for you at the moment, that’s OK too. Use this as a reminder for the next time you are discouraged. Lift your head up, reflect on what happened, learn from it, smile and go on!

I don’t know what next Halloween holds, but we already are talking about the garage sale. We may expand to breakfast. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Kevin Eikenberry is the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group (http://KevinEikenberry.com) and author of Vantagepoints on Learning and Life. To read more stories like the one above or order your copy of the book visit http://www.vantagepoints.net or contact Kevin at (317) 387-1424 or toll free 888.LEARNER.

Even though we all love the concept of eating chocolate, candy, sugary drinks and other sweet treats, it does not mean that our eating habits should just go out the window. In fact, make a change this year and prepare AHEAD of time instead of just gorging away and joining the others who munch away and curse themselves until Jan. 1st, where they all promise to yet again LOSE WEIGHT! Why put yourself through that? Why delay the punishment when you could avoid it in the first place? I’m not saying to be a “Debbie Downer” and become the diet cop and ruin everyone else’s holiday season, but just eat smart and practice some easy tips to make the start of this holiday season less of a terror!

We all know how hard it is to watch what you eat, and let’s not even start talking about the 4 letter D-Word. (Yes, the dreaded D-I-E-T!) And it can become even more of a challenge during the holiday season. Which is why so many just shrug their shoulders, instantly give up and stuff their faces until New Year’s Day.

But, by making some carefully thought out choices, it isn’t that difficult to maintain your current weight or even LOOSE some pounds. While everyone else is stressing about the office Christmas party or how much they want to loss weight yet again in the New Year, you can just sit quietly and enjoy ignoring those emotions! Your smug smile can be accompanied with a leaner, sexier and healthier version of yourself this time around! If that isn’t a great way to ring in the New Year, I don’t know what is?!?!?!

Below are some helpful tips to get started with the upcoming Halloween season!

Tip 1: Just get Moving! If you are not currently working out, BEING a customized program now. It doesn’t have to be complicated, start by walking around your block before work or afterward when you come home. Become consistent with 3 days a week for at least 30 minutes and eventually increase that time. Incorporate weight training and watch those pounds run screaming in the opposite direction!

Tip 2: Bait & Switch! If your office is encourage bringing in those treats, or your child has their school’s annual costume party and EVERYONE is bringing something, simply bring a healthy fruit/veggie tray. Get into the spirit and use the infamous PUMPKIN as your treat. Healthier versions of pumpkin pie, cupcakes, or cookies are floating around. Use your imagination and slide that healthy treat front and center! Be a good ghoul!

Tip 3: Just Say No! Those sugary drinks and punches being passed around are loaded with sugar. Avoid the adult versions of specialties being promoted in the bars and ask for apple cider, pumpkin spice tea, or even water & lemon. Sure, you won’t be recognized for your beverage spirit, but neither will your bulging belly!

Tip 4: Just be Cheap! In keeping with the spirit, if you plan to hand out candy, have just enough to hand out. Don’t let your guilt from kids allow you to buy 10 bags of candy, ‘just in case’. Those extra bags laying around do nothing but tempt you, long after Halloween has come and gone. And avoid the marked down candy sales after Halloween, I don’t care how discounted it is!

Tip 5: Be Uncool for Once! Have you ever thought about handing out something besides candy? Probably not, since you would hate to find an egged car or a toilet papered house in the morning. But seriously, consider handing out raisins, microwave popcorn, stickers, party favors, or even discounted coupons. My personal favorite was a toothbrush, but he was a dentist. And no, I didn’t egg his house. But I did NOT go back the next year!

Regardless of what path you choose, we must find some way to break the tradition of losing control of our eating during the holidays and regretting these decisions with a promise of a change come New Year’s. Halloween should not be the beginning of the end! Envision welcoming the next year with a body you will be proud of, not downing yourself for letting loose during the holidays. Use some of these helpful hints and find yourself being the envy of those around you! It’s easier than you think!

As one of the #1 Certified Fitness Instructors/Trainers in South Florida, Sharyn currently runs fitness Body Blitz Boot Camps in Miami, Florida. She is happy to provide additional guidance for your dietary concerns, in-home food/kitchen overhauls, and personalized online prescriptions. She is also available for personal training and is currently enrolling clients for the busy holiday season. Visit [http://www.the3bcamp.com] for more information about her camps. She also places updated resources on her blog, found at http://www.fftrainblog.com or through Fitness Fusion Training’s site.

The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.

By the 800′s Pope Biniface IV kept the tradition alive by making it an All Saints Day. And even later he declared it All Souls Day. Never the less, the point I want to make is this: A tradition needs to pass the test of time. Is it time to continue to celebrate Halloween or is it time to stop celebrating Halloween?

I like tradition as well as anyone you know, but some traditions need to be re-examined. The big question here is: Why do we continue to celebrate Halloween?

It would seem to me that we are breaking one of my newest rules for my life. I refuse to do anything today if the only reason that I am doing it is because I did it yesterday. It would appear to me that the only reason we celebrate Halloween is because we always have. Is that a good enough reason?

Let’s look at some of the positive points of Halloween. Halloween is a good time for family and friends to get together. They may get together for a party or to go out and beg for candy in our neighborhood. While in their own neighborhood, it is a great time to say hello to friends and neighbors.

Carving pumpkins and creating costumes is a good time for parents and children to spend time together while being given the opportunity to exhibit their creative side. Many times the Parent and child may desire to have theme related costumes. An example would be Mother dressed up as the wicked step mother while daughter is dressed up as Cinderella.

There certainly may be more positive aspects to Halloween. I remember Halloween as a day when kids could be kids and parents were responsible for our safety. The candy was an added bonus to an outing of fun and games.

So how about you and your family? Are you going to celebrate the coming of winter and dead souls with your children? The theme itself seems a bit out dated to me. The danger of taking young excitable children out into the streets and sidewalks is certainly a challenge at best. Many of the costumes obstruct the childrens’ sight. Many parents drive up the road stopping at each house to let their children out of the car. While this saves steps for the parent it is very dangerous for other young children who are crossing back and forth to each of the houses.

Each year many children and even adults are risking their lives by going out and begging door to door for candy that may not be safe, with little regard to the message that they are sending their children. By going door to door, we are teaching our children that it is not only okay to speak to strangers but it is also okay to accept food from them.

You may go to many sites to read about the good and bad things that may come about by observing and participating in this time honored tradition. I challenge you to rethink the custom and determine for yourself whether it sends your child the message that you want them to learn. If you are only celebrating Halloween this year because you did so last year, you may want to re- consider. Traditions are only as worthwhile as the purpose they serve. Halloween serves no purpose in our modern society!

Bob Roach Father of one and middle school teacher of literally thousands over the past thirty years. To find out more parenting tips write me at: rproach@yahoo.com

Highlights of the

Halloween tour include some of Romania’s most prized sights.

Such as Bran Castle (dubbed Dracula’s Castle), Sighisoara (the Birthplace of the

Real Dracula), Poenari Castle (Dracula’s Real Castle), Borgo Pass (The

fictional route to Dracula’s Castle), and such medieval towns as Brasov and

Sibiu. We have also planned some special dinner’s, such as Club Dracula in

Bucharest, Dinner in the birthplace of Dracula (Sighisoara), a Dracula show with

dinner in Castle Dracula Hotel, and a special dinner by camp fire in Bran; with

traditional plum brandy, bacon, home made sausages, all fried on the camp fire

with red wine.

Starting off in Bucharest where you will be met by your English speaking tour

guide at the international airport. On the way to your hotel enjoy a basic tour

of the city. For tonight’s dinner you will be welcomed to “Club Dracula” to

enjoy an amusing evening in this unique restaurant. The atmosphere soaks up the

with Dracula lovers, both the fictional Bram Stoker’s character to the Vlad

himself, from the servers to the plates and even the wall paper.

The

next day we are off to Poenari Castle, which is referred to as the real Dracula

Castle. Now in ruins this castle sits on a cliff which demands a hike up the

1,400 stairs to reach the top. This is where the famous scene took place when

Dracula’s wife flung herself from the window into the murk waters opting death

over being captured by the Turks. It is said that Vlad escaped by horse back

through the mountain during this ferocious attack.

Then

onto Sighisoara, the birth place of Dracula. This ancient citadel is among one

of the only still inhabited in Europe. An appropriate stay for Halloween night.

This evening you can take in the festivities planned for your special night

(costumes, masks, fangs, fake blood, etc…). The next morning a tour of the

citadel is planned.

We

will then travel through Borgo pass – the fictional path used in the novel to

reach Count Dracula’s home of residence. Its dramatic scenery, with huge hills

draped in forests of fir trees and villages appearing as living monuments to a

way of life unchanged for centuries. At the end of the road we will come to

Hotel Dracula where you will be staying for the night. The Hotel dates from

1983, built in the style of a medieval mansion, it was created to bring alive an

authentic Dracula atmosphere.

The

next morning we will head to Bran Castle, often referred to as “Dracula Castle”.

Although in history it is said he may have set foot in the residence once during

a siege of the castle. Despite these allegations this is one of the most

picturesque castles in the country. Built by the Saxons in 1300′s in a setting

surrounded by forest and hills.

Lastly but not least is a visit to Snagov Monastery, where they say the tomb of

Dracula lays. To visit you must cross the kilometer long lake by boat. Vlad’s

murder is believed to have occurred in the forests nearby, where the monks took

the his body, since both Vlad and his father had both given money to the

monastery.

Your

specialist tour guide will assure that all the elements of Halloween be included

on this tour from start to finish. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to

discover the myth and the truth of the “Legend of Dracula” in mythical Romania

Halloween with Dracula in his Homeland of Transylvania!!



http://www.goromaniatours.com/news/dracula-halloween-tour-romania.html

We are a specialty online tour operator focused on customized tours that not only make you feel at home, but ones that will leave you with a sense of satisfaction when you return from your journey. We have a good understanding of our clients needs and can tailor make a package that you will truly remember.

Our vision is to share with visitors from all over the world, the natural beauty of Romania, as well as the unforgettable people that make this Country so special, and the most remarkable destination in Europe, if not the world.

Our personal knowledge of Romania and the tourism industry enable us to offer unique services to all minds a like. Our services are gear to offer a wide variety of interests you may seek, such as: Active and Nature Holidays, Historic and Cultural Tours, Spa and Leisure Vacations, VIP private guides and drivers, small group incentives, wine and food, and more… Just ask us and we’ll find it for you!

http://www.goromaniatours.com

It makes sense that this time of year would create fear among primitive people whose lives were based on superstition rather than scientific fact. It was clear that at this time of year – the time of the harvest – things could go terribly wrong. Wait too long and the crops wither in the fields. Harvest too early and crops could rot in the heat or – if eaten too green – could sicken people and livestock.

In addition, this was the time of year that livestock was slaughtered for the winter. If the weather turned warm again, meat could rot, and even if the meat could be properly stored, the rotting bones and carcasses could cause illness or attract wild animals and insects.

For this reason, long-ago peoples built huge bonfires to ward off animals and burn the remains of the slaughter. Bonfires remain a major function of Halloween because of this connotation. In Ireland, where metal was scarce and precious – especially once the English got over there and started pilfering all the good stuff for themselves – and root vegetables relatively abundant, lanterns were carved from turnips. Ultimately, the Irish got lanterns just like everybody else’s, but the turnip lamps were revived each year by children looking for treats throughout the neighborhood – part of the celebration, in that very Catholic country, of the Vigil of All Saints Day.

There is a lot of confusion between the All Saints Day and All Hallows Eve. All Hallows Eve – later shortened to Halloween – was a pagan holiday, and, like so many pagan holidays, the Church tried to obliterate it by creating a holier, more appropriate celebration with which to replace it. For children and people of a partying mindset, however, All Saints or All Souls Day lacked the spooky and tantalizing attraction of Halloween.

As a result, you’ll see a lot of emphasis on costumes and snack-size candy bars this month. And while the old evil-spirit-warding standbys – ghosts, witches, pumpkin-men, and the undead – will have plenty of face time, Halloween has evolved to allow trick-or-treaters and other partygoers to take on the persona of their Own Personal Heroes.

As such, there will be a lot of angels, princesses, and German beer frau – some of them completely literal, and some of them really slutty. As for guys, you’ll see superheroes, movie idols, and ladies’ men of all shapes and sizes.

What I wonder, though, is why people wait for Halloween to make themselves into the people they want to be? In real life, you can dress like a real star – and in something other than garish nylon that ties in the back.

Be a real superstar. In a well-cut dark suit, you can be any number of characters: Dracula, James Bond, the guys on Law and Order, the guys on Mad Men. You could also be really successful on days other than October 31.

Add a white shirt for Dracula, a green turtleneck and some neck bolt for Frankenstein, a lab coat for Dr. Jekyll, and a fancy gold lighter and a shaken martini for 007. A red ribbon festooned with medals can turn you into a vampire or Prince Charles (don’t forget the joke teeth for both of those costumes), and a black tie can turn you into a creepy undertaker.

To really top off your look, add some cufflinks. Cufflinks add the perfect finishing touch to every outfit, and they make the final statement for Halloween. Especially with today’s fashion fixation on skulls and bones, there are cufflinks that can take you from a smart joke at the office to the Best Costume prize at the local pub or the country club.

Children play make-believe all the time, and get to live out their fantasies at Halloween. We’re adults. Fantasy is all well and good, but why not be a master of your own destiny and make your dream a reality?

Dress like a man – not a kid.

Whether your interests are in silver, gold, artistic, sports, or other theme-related cufflinks we’ve got you covered. Cufflink Aficionado carries a broad range of men’s cufflinks designed to meet each connoisseur’s individual style and interest. Our selection of Holloween cuff links are sure to top off that perfect look!

1. Make an Event Out of Pumpkin Picking

Yes, you can pick up a pumpkin at the local supermarket – and that’s great if you’re in a bind. But it’s much more fun if you can make an event of it. Look online for a pumpkin patch event in your area, or search for a nearby orchard offering pumpkin picking, hay rides and apple cider. Organize a date to go with good friends and you’ll enjoy it that much more.

2. Have Pumpkin Carving Contest

Invite good friends and neighbors over the weekend before Halloween to see who can carve the most interesting, or scariest, or funniest jack-o-lantern. If small kids will be attending, be sure to have mini pumpkins and magic markers on hand so that they can participate too.

3. Add a Smile to the Serving Table

If you’re thinking of throwing a party this year, do something a little different and use small pumpkins as serving dishes. Hollow them out and carve a jagged edge in the top. Put saran wrap on the inside and voila – it’s a bowl! If you need to keep something cool, place a small plastic bag of ice in the bottom.

4. Set a Spooky Atmosphere With a Little Dry Ice

Make trick-or-treaters earn their stripes with a little spooky fog coming out of your jack-o-lantern made with dry ice. Fill a large cup or glass about half full with hot water and mix in a cup of salt and place it inside the pumpkin. Wearing gloves (very important – dry ice can cause instant frostbite), drop two or three large pieces of dry ice into the can of water. Replace the top of the pumpkin.

5. Get the Candle Effects Without the Fire Hazard

If you’re not comfortable having a candle in your jack-o-lantern, get the next best thing. The “Artificial Candle Pumpkin Light” from PumpkinLight.com flickers just like a real candle but without the danger of a real flame.

6. Light Up the Night

If you’re looking for something pretty simple and yet different and eerie, try lighting up the sky around your house with glow sticks. Tie small glow sticks to string attached to helium balloons and let them sail over your house or hover in the trees. Make sure to tie off the strings to something solid so they don’t get away.

7. Get a Spooky Manicure

It’s amazing what a few bottles of nail polish can do to help you get in the spirit. Women and girls can sport basic orange nails or try a fancier look with orange and black stripes. Men and boys can show their dark side with a black or brown manicure.

8. Be Fun AND Safe

If you have children that are going to be walking in the streets trick-or-treating, make sure they are easy to see at night. Tie or sew glow-sticks to your child’s costume so they can be seen more easily in the dark. Alternatively, use a little reflective tape. In addition, give them a flashlight to take with them.

9. Don’t Leave Your Pet Out of the Fun

There are lots of excellent costumes out there for Fido and Felix. If your pet is the calm type, try dressing her up for Halloween! If you have a nervous pet, be sure to put him in a back bedroom or other quiet spot in the house if you expect to get a lot of trick-or-treaters. The constant stream of visitors can spook some pets.

10. Play Hide the Pumpkin

If you’re looking for a simple, but fun, Halloween game, try “hide the pumpkin.” All you need is a bunch of mini pumpkins, which you can usually get at your local grocery store around this time of year. Then hide them all over the house or in the yard and the person who finds the most wins a prize!

Buttoned Up is dedicated to helping stretched & stressed women get organized. Co-founders Alicia Rockmore & Sarah Welch team up with a group of Gurus to give you tips & products for all your messy, stressed needs & introduce “imperfect organization.” Visit http://www.getbuttonedup.com to see which Guru matches your style & get info on Everyday Life, Life Essentials & Life Events

In fact, during my research of the subject, various authors have had differing opinions, except for the initial origin, on which all agree. Halloween began approximately 2000 years ago in the Celtic culture. In those days, the year was divided into two seasons: the season of the living and the season of the dead. October 31 has symbolized the beginning of the New Year, or the season of the dead.

The Celtics have believed, for one day, the world of the dead in the world of the living collide. The Celtic priests, or Druids, lit big bonfires to sacrifice crops and animals to the Celtic deities. Dressed in costumes themselves, the individuals in the community would attempt to tell each other’s fortunes. All of a community believes the other world souls cause trouble; they also feel the active souls help priests determine the future for the next year.

Obviously a pagan holiday, when the Romans introduced Christianity into the culture, something has to be done. Since old habits die hard, Christians decide to introduce a new holiday. Instead of worship being the change of season between the living and the dead, the Romans create an all Saints Day.

The principle behind all Saints Day is simple. The Saints who have no particular day to commemorate their contribution to Christianity are paid tribute on this occasion. Also known as All Hallows, the Pope and other Catholic leaders have hoped to pull the Celtics away from a pagan holiday. Instead of worshiping the dead out of fear, the Celtics can celebrate the lives of saints and Christian martyrs. Instead of totally converting to the Christian way of thinking, the Celtics intertwined old pagan and Christian ideals. The night befre all Saints Day has become known as All Hallows Eve, soon to be shortened to Halloween.

The question is: how has Halloween evolved into the holiday we celebrate now? Basically, some believe Halloween is still a combination of Celtic traditions and Christian beliefs. For example, fearing harmful souls the Celtics would dress up in costumes, so the other world souls would not recognize them and cause them harm. On the other end of the spectrum, the Christian poor went door-to-door for contributions of food to help them survive; in turn, the poor promise to pray for the deceased relatives of the givers.

The practice eventually became the Halloween we know today. Kids and adults alike celebrate the holiday with costume parties and trick-or-treating. Unfortunately, the yearly event has also become a time for dangerous tricks not simply meant to appease cantankerous souls. No longer can people go from house to house knocking to receive nutritious food or treats.

Today, parents and children have to be on constant guard against the evil individual who may taint the Emmy candies in order heard small children. Because the world has become such an unsafe place, trick-or-treaters take a risk every time they knock on a stranger’s door. Also, delinquent minors would rather trick than receive a treat.

Sadly, many communities have resorted to providing trick-or-treat zones. For example, a large building may be transformed into a house of ghosts, goblins, and goodies. In addition, law enforcement officials are available to check through the candy, before a child takes it home for consumption. On the bright side, children and adults still love to dress up in costume’s, and for one night pretend to be a fairy princess, a wicked witch, Superman, Aphrodite, or a plethora of the other characters were people from the past. Despite its questionable history, Halloween is alive and well. If in doubt, look at the happy faces of little children with bags filled to the brim with candy and treats.

Tina Matsunaga is a contract writer for Internet entreprenuers who wish to promote their products or services. With an English degree, she supports her family from the comforts of home.

For more information on where you can find fun costumes and ideas to celebrate this 2000-year-old tradition, visit http://www.Desire4mo.com Kim will be glad to help you make the holiday your own.

1. The Blair Witch Project – 1999, dir. Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sanchez. This modest, low-budget film proved that you don’t need flashy special effects to successfully create a mood of terror. The story is presented as a documentary of actual amateur footage found in the woods after three students vanish while researching a local legend known as the Blair Witch. We become the characters, watching the footage from their perspective in the viewfinder as they filmed it, which draws us in and heightens the chilling climax.

2. Carnival of Souls – 1962, dir. Herk Harvey. While on her way to take a job as a church organist, a woman is haunted by a bizarre apparition. It compels her to an abandoned lakeside pavilion, beginning an eerie chain of events. Harvey’s macabre, low-budget masterpiece, with its appropriately eerie organ score, has become a cult classic.

3. Donnie Darko – 2001, dir. Richard Kelly. Time travel, an improbably terrifying man in a rabbit costume and a protagonist who may or may not be slipping into mental illness form the mystery at the core of this cult film that straddles sci-fi and horror, yet is much more than either genre. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Donnie Darko, a troubled teenager in suburban Virginia who tries to make sense of seemingly disconnected, baffling threads and hallucinations. Everything finally comes together on the night before Halloween, when Donnie is forced to confront a decision that will change his future, and his past.

4. The Exorcist – 1973, dir. William Friedkin. Even putting aside the hype, this remains one of the all-time best horror films. Ellen Burstyn plays a mother who becomes distraught over the increasingly bizarre behavior of her daughter (played by Linda Blair). Not wanting to admit the possibility that her daughter has become possessed by the devil, she nevertheless agrees at last to bring in an exorcist. The minimalist music from Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield, which builds slowly and inevitably like the movie, was not originally composed with horror in mind, but just a few bars of the theme can raise the hairs on the back of your neck.

5. The Haunting (original version) – 1963, dir. Robert Wise. This is the original film version of Shirley Jackson’s novel about a paranormal investigator and his three companions who gather in an old house known for its terrible past. Claire Bloom plays the psychologically fragile Nell who slowly falls under the maleficent spell of the house. Despite a few campy moments that don’t date well, the movie still manages to retain its power. Wise understood that terror often lies in what is not revealed.

6. The Nightmare Before Christmas – 1993, dir. Henry Selick (written by Tim Burton). In this inventive stop-action fantasy, the leader of Halloween Town (known as Jack Skellington, the “king of the pumpkin patch”) conspires to breathe new life into the repetitive celebration of Halloween by kidnapping Santa Claus and imposing his own dark spin on Christmas. The visuals are engaging, and the ghoulish music by Danny Elfman brings just the right balance of humor and good-natured fright.

7. Onibaba – 1964, dir. Kaneto Shindo. This black-and-white Japanese horror movie takes place during the 14th century civil wars that rocked the country and resulted in mass starvation. A woman and her daughter-in-law survive by selling the armor of wayward warriors that the two women lure to their death. The element of the supernatural is subtle, and the minimalist use of images such as wind-blown pampas grass beneath a dark sky or the Noh demon mask is masterly.

8. The Others – 2001, dir. Alejandro Amenabar. Nicole Kidman plays a nervous woman who escapes to the English countryside with her two photophobic children during World War II, waiting for her husband to return from the front. This twist on the classic haunted house theme is done with just the right touch of pathos and supernatural dread.

9. The Phantom of the Opera (original version) – 1925, dir. Rupert Julian. Lon Chaney appeared in the title role in this silent film about a masked, disfigured musician who haunts the Paris Opera House and falls in love with one of the Opera’s singers. It is famous for Chaney’s intentionally horrific, self-applied make-up. Later remakes, including the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, are rather lame in comparison to the power and horror of the original.

10. Pitch Black – 2000, dir. David Twohy. It may have the facade of a sci-fi movie, but the story is really about one of our primal fears: the dark. A merchant ship crashes on a desolate planet where two suns keep the planet in seemingly perpetual daylight. The survivors discover a mysteriously abandoned outpost and slowly come to realize that something horrific waits to be released when the planet is subject to the darkness of a total eclipse. Vin Diesel plays the convict with special vision who they must learn to trust in order to survive the night. This movie scared the pants off me.

11. Scary Movie 3 – 2003, dir. David Zucker. The horror genre is ripe for parody, and the third installment of the Scary Movie franchise skewers not only flicks like The Ring and The Others but everything from American Idol to Michael Jackson. The scene at the wake had me laughing so hard it hurt.

12. Shutter (original version) – 2004, dir. Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkpoom Wongpoom. A photographer and his girlfriend accidentally run over a young woman who appears out of nowhere on a dark highway, then guiltily flee the scene. The dead woman begins to intrude into their lives, appearing first in photographs and gradually taking on a more corporeal presence. The final scene is a disturbing image that will haunt you long after the movie ends. Be sure to watch the original Thai version, not the American remake.

13. The Silence of the Lambs – 1991, dir. Jonathan Demme. Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins star in this thriller about an FBI agent who seeks the help of a convicted homicidal psychiatrist to track down a serial killer. Rather than the supernatural, it’s reality that makes this film so frightening, eliciting our fear of the real-life monsters in our midst.

More music articles at Song of Fire (obergh.net/songoffire)