31 Days of Halloween - Day 30: Halloween Traditions

So I decided, since it is a day before Halloween (Or in my case, Halloween) I should go over the rules of Halloween as defined by Michael Dougherty’s Trick ‘r Treat. As we all know from the movie, these traditions were started to protect us from evil and thus Samhain (Sam) was born, a demonic spirit of Halloween who, every year, shows up as a reminder of the spirit of Halloween. He enforces these traditions and if you break them… you’re in for it.

So, what are the traditions? Below are the traditions and why you should obey them.

Wear a costume.
This is what Halloween is all about and this has been an age-old tradition among the Celtics and Christians. This is the only time of the year when we can be somebody that we are not and dress in a ghoulish manner to honor the dead. In modern times, Halloween is all about dressing up in costumes and parading form house to house to get candy, it’s what defines Halloween.

From Blogger Pictures

Hand out treats.
Again, since the whole ritual of All Hallow’s Eve and Samhain started, people have been handing out candy for young kids that come to the ceremonies or give them apples to bob for. This tradition has past onto more modern times and… in some cases, if you don’t give the person a treat they teepee your house as a trick. It’s always nice to give treats out to kids as a reward for their costumes.

Never blow out a jack-o-lantern.
Jack-o-lanterns have always been a part of Halloween ever since the 1800’s and the story of “Stingy Jack,” and since it’s been a tradition to hallow out a pumpkin, or any large vegetable, and make a lantern out of it. To blow out a jack-o-lantern before Halloween is over means disrespecting the entire eve of All Hallows’ Day.

From Blogger Pictures

Always check your candy.
This is something that should always be done because there are freaks out there that do put razor blades in the candy, or poison it, or even just plain joke candy… either way, it’s always great to practice this tradition since it does keep you safe and it does prevent you from going to the hospital on one of the most beloved holidays.

So there you have it, the traditions of Halloween and why you should obey them, according to Trick 'r Treat. They have been passed down from generation to generation and if you don’t honor them, then you are essentially disrespecting the ancestors that founded Halloween. Plus… that last thing any of us want is to be sliced open by a little monster wearing a burlap sack wielding a sharp lollipop.