The Crow's Nest

History of Halloween

by Alexa Agnello

"The Halloween Pumpkin Man"

Halloween is the scariest day of the year (besides Friday The 13th). Many people of all ages dress up in costumes and go trick or treating. Many scary movies are watched or put in theaters on this day. Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. 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. Borrowing from Irish and English traditions, Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money, a practice that eventually became today’s “trick-or-treat” tradition.

Halloween has been a tradition for many people for thousands of years. Even though it wasn’t our tradition to start with. Many people make it a competition by decorating their houses to the fullest. A lot of houses on Staten Island take decorating to the extreme. One house in particular takes extreme to a whole other level.

A house in Westerleigh, Staten Island decorates their house with gore and even has a projector in the window of the house. They put up big statues and figures and this year the owners have a smoke machine in front of the house.

Halloween is enjoyed by almost everyone and is enjoyed by people of all ages. Let Halloween begin!