Happy Halloween!

Halloween as we know it today dates back to the early 20th century.

The holiday was relatively obscure in late 19th century America. It was brought to the country by Irish and Scottish immigrants, combining the features of the Celtic and Christian holidays, and celebrated with feasting, divinations, and mischief making.

 

Trick or Treat!

The general practice of going door-to-door for treats is clearly similar to a much older practice, "souling," in which the poor would go from house to house begging for alms or food. However, the specific practice of "trick-or-treating" dates to around the 1930s. It is possible—though by no means certain—that it evolved as an antidote for the increasingly rowdy and costly Halloween pranks. It provided a healthier activity for the young and gave them an incentive not to play tricks.

(Read more: Halloween Traditions — Infoplease.com )

Jack-O’-Lanterns, Massachusetts  

(National Geographic Photo of the Day)

How to make a Jack o' Lantern:

A jack-o-lantern is typically a carved pumpkin and was named after the phenomenon of strange light flickering over peat bogs, called ignis fatuus or jack-o'-lantern. In a jack-o'-lantern, typically the top is cut off, and the inside flesh then scooped out; an image, usually a monstrous face, is carved onto the outside surface, and the lid replaced. (wikipedia.org)