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HALLOWEEN, Oct. 31, the eve of All Saints' Day, observed with traditional games and customs. The word comes from medieval England's All Hallows' eve (Old Eng. hallow = "saint" ). However, many of these customs predate Christianity, going back to Celtic practices associated with Nov. 1, which was Samhain, the beginning of winter and the Celtic New Year. Witches and other evil spirits were believed to roam the earth on this evening, playing tricks on human beings to mark the season of diminishing sunlight. Bonfires were lit, offerings were made of dainty foods and sweets, and people would disguise themselves as one of the roaming spirits, to avoid demonic persecution. Survivals of these early practices can be found in countries of Celtic influence today, such as the United States where children go from door to door in costumes demanding: "Trick or treat."
1. HALLOWEEN, Oct. 31, the eve of All Saints' Day, observed with traditional
games and customs. The word comes from medieval England's All Hallows'
eve (Old Eng. hallow = "saint" ). However, many of these customs
predate Christianity, going back to Celtic practices associated with
Nov. 1, which was Samhain, the beginning of winter and the Celtic New
Year. Witches and other evil spirits were believed to roam the earth
on this evening, playing tricks on human beings to mark the season of
diminishing sunlight. Bonfires were lit, offerings were made of dainty
foods and sweets, and people would disguise themselves as one of the
roaming spirits, to avoid demonic persecution. Survivals of these early
practices can be found in countries of Celtic influence today, such
as the United States where children go from door to door in costumes
demanding: "Trick or treat."
2. Halloween or the eve of All Saints’ Day is celebrated on October
31. On that day many homes are decorated and lit by lanterns in the
pumpkins that have been hollowed out. Kids dress up in witches, ghosts,
and goblins and go trick-or treating to neighbours.
English settlers first celebrated Thanksgiving Day in 1621. Their first
winter in America was very hard, over half of the settlers died. They
had planted corn, the Indians showed them how to plant maize and they
got a rich harvest in autumn. The colonists decided to make a holiday
dinner, their leader proclaimed «a day of Thanksgiving unto the Lord»
for the rich harvest. A national Thanksgiving came only after the foundation
of the USA. It is the fourth Thursday in November. Every year, the President
writes a kind of letter to the people. He writes that the fourth Thursday
in November will be a national holiday. The people can spend Thanksgiving
Day with their families, as it is a four-day holiday. Ever since the
Pilgrims gave thanks for their survival in the new land in 1621, Americans
have flocked to their churches to add their own prayers for their country,
and then gone home for the traditional feast. The table is always loaded
with many different kinds of delicious food. The main dish is the roast
turkey, pumpkins, squashes, and cranberries.