Our First Holiday in Ireland

I didn't really know how Halloween would go so I went for a walk yesterday and asked some of the locals what we should expect.  Before going for a walk I researched Ireland's Halloween.  I found out that it originated here with the Celtic people.  The Celebration marks the end of Summer and the start of the Winter months.  It seems innocent enough when you think of it that way but Halloween was actually a very superstitious holiday revolving around the dead.  The Celts at one point called it Samhain pronounced (Sow-een) meaning All Hallowtide.  The creepy and scary part of it all is that it stands for the 'Feast of the Dead'.  Halloween was one day when the Celts believed that the dead could revisit the mortal world. 
There were many superstitions revolving around Halloween night.  One of them was to dress up in a costume.  On that very night children would dress up in scary costumes and go house to house.  They did actually say 'Trick or Treat'.  In addition they dressed up to disguise themselves as spirits and devils.  It was believed that the the evil spirits and devils would not know they were mortals if they were dressed that way.  By being disguised they had high hopes to avoid being carried off in the night. 
I find this a bit disturbing and therefore Halloween is my least favorite holiday.  We make it a point to not decorate with anything frightening or dress as anything evil.  I see it as a time for little ones to enjoy dress-up, appreciate the changing seasons as well as give and get some candy from some neighbors we might not have met otherwise.  I don't see a need to make the night one that will terrorize children. 
Click here for an article about celebrating Halloween in a positive way.

Here is Tatar-Tot dressed up as a fairy.

 

The whole family took her to visit neighbors, look cute and get some candy.  She did very well and was adored by all.  Halloween here was much like an American holiday, which is what one of the locals told me it would be like.  The kids dressed up and went door to door saying, "Trick or Treat."  We even had one kid say, "Trick or Treat, smell my feet."  (With a very cute Irish accent)  Many homes had decorations up, both scary and not so scary.  We were done by 6PM and answering our door.  I bought six bags of candy and only handed out 2 a person.  We were out of candy by 7PM.  I had to put a sign on the door, sadly announcing our shortage.  I am glad we went.  We saw many new faces and met several neighborhood children.  We had recently heard that much of the neighbors were very well aware of the "American family" moving in.  It gave us an opportunity to make a presence without being over bearing. 

I mean, how often can you go door to door and meet every neighbor in one night?