IT’S that time of the year again to restart a great Australian debate.
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Halloween will take place on Monday, October 31 and the question still remains – do we care in Australia?
Halloween history
Halloween has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain, pronounced “sah-win”.
The festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture.
The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead overlapped and the deceased would come back to life and cause havoc such as sickness or damaged crops. (Source: Halloween History)
Trick or treat
One of the most well-known aspects about Halloween is the tradition of “trick or treat”.
The activity involves children going door knocking house to house, asking for a treat such as chocolate or lollies.
Halloween Australia recommends having an adult accompany the group when trick or treating.
Children are advised to be polite when trick or treating on Halloween.
Stay in the group and don’t rush ahead to the next house.
Some children may need permission slips from their parents and children are advised to always be wary of strangers.
Halloween costumes
Halloween is also closely associated with the tradition of dressing up in costumes.
According to Halloween History, the practice of dressing up in costumes and begging door to door for treats on holidays can be traced back to the Middle Ages.
Another tradition during Halloween is carving up a pumpkin to create a lantern.
Halloween etiquete
Is there a certain set of manners or rules that need to be followed on Halloween?
According to Australian site Kidspot, the answer is yes.
Kidspot has provided 10 rules of Halloween etiquette, which includes that fruit is not a treat, to offer wrapped lollies only and to wear scary costumes only.
So why Australia?
It’s tricky (pun intended) to nail down exactly when Halloween’s popularity started to rise in Australia.
However, it appears the American tradition has grown down under in the past five to six years.
There is a Halloween Australia Facebook page, where people can share their ideas for activities on October 31.
Cashing in
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Halloween is set to be a big winner for Australian retailers this year.
There has been a significant increase in Halloween-related sales at major retail stores, including a 100 per cent jump in sales for Spotlight.
‘Un-Australian tradition’
While some see Halloween as a harmless bit of fun, others believe it should not be celebrated in Australia.
A “Halloween is un-Australian” Facebook page was established to allow people to share their thoughts or grievances about the issue.