It was a cold Tuesday when Connor and Mia, best friends since their freshman year, moved into their dorm rooms. The new dormitory was a grand, six-story structure named The Ravenscroft Hall, with an eerie aura surrounding it. The creaky wooden floors, the antique portrait of the university founder that seemed to watch you wherever you moved, and the dimly lit hallways created an ominous atmosphere that made your hair stand on end.

“I’ve got a weird feeling about this place, Connor,” Mia said, fidgeting nervously.

“Relax, Mia,” Connor chuckled. “You’ve been watching too many horror movies.”

Days turned into weeks, and both Connor and Mia tried to shake off the uneasiness that lingered. They began to notice strange occurrences — soft whispers in the night, eerie shadows dancing on the walls, and sometimes, they’d even find their belongings misplaced.

One night, a terrified scream ripped through the silence of the dormitory. Mia and Connor rushed out of their rooms and saw their neighbor, Samantha, standing in the hallway, shaking like a leaf. She claimed she saw a shadowy figure standing at the foot of her bed, grinning wickedly.

After that incident, students started reporting similar experiences, and rumors spread that Ravenscroft Hall was haunted. But the university administration dismissed it as imaginative minds running wild.

Determined to find answers, Mia and Connor decided to investigate. They discovered that Ravenscroft Hall was built on the ruins of an old asylum where terrible things had happened. Asylum patients were said to be tormented by a sinister demon named Astaroth. Could it be the same demon haunting Ravenscroft Hall?

They began researching ancient texts and discovered that Astaroth was banished long ago, and the only way to bring him back was through an innocent soul’s plea. Samantha, the scared student, had jokingly recited an incantation found in a book in the university library, unbeknownst to her, the words were a plea to Astaroth.

Now, it was up to Mia and Connor to send Astaroth back to where he came from. They found an ancient ritual in one of the texts that would banish the demon, but it had to be performed exactly at midnight in the place of his summoning.

They prepared everything as mentioned in the text. As the clock struck midnight, they began the ritual. A cold wind howled through the hallway, the lights flickered, and an oppressive presence filled the room.

Suddenly, Astaroth appeared in a form of shadow and smoke. His presence was terrifying, his eyes were like burning embers, and he spoke in a voice that sounded like a chorus of whispers, “Why send me back when I can give you everything you’ve ever wanted?”

Unfazed, Connor replied, “We want nothing from you, demon! We banish you back to the darkness from whence you came!”

They recited the incantation and Astaroth let out a blood-curdling scream. His form began to dissipate, and soon, all that was left was a small, glimmering amulet.

“Did we do it?” Mia asked, nervously. Connor picked up the amulet, examining it. “I think we did.”

The next morning, peace was restored. The students woke up to find the aura of Ravenscroft Hall surprisingly serene. Connor and Mia were hailed as heroes.

But as Mia celebrated, she noticed something strange. Connor was acting differently, almost distant. And then, she saw it — the amulet, around his neck. “Connor, why do you have that?” she asked, pointing at the amulet.

He looked at her, his eyes now burning embers, “Why send me back when I can give you everything you’ve ever wanted?” He repeated Astaroth’s words in the same chorus of whispers, revealing the horrifying twist: Astaroth hadn’t been banished. He’d simply found a new host.

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One evening, during a campus ghost hunt, Daisy stumbled upon an old, rusty key and a worn-out diary. Alex identified the diary as dating back to the early 1900s. As they opened it, a cold breeze swept through them, leaving everyone with goosebumps.

The diary belonged to a former student, Martha, who wrote about a series of murders at the university. She suspected a professor, identified only by the initials “J.B.” The diary ended abruptly, hinting that Martha might have been the final victim.

Alex, an ardent fan of Sherlock Holmes, proposed that they solve the mystery. The rest, despite being creeped out, agreed, expecting it to be more amusing than terrifying.

Over the following days, they embarked on their investigation, splitting responsibilities according to their strengths. Daisy explored the campus’ old buildings for clues, Rex trawled through digital archives, Holly interviewed elderly locals, and Alex studied the diary meticulously.

They found an old news article reporting the unsolved murders. The victims were all students, found in locked rooms, and each left a note saying, “J.B. has my heart.” The article gave them chills but also led them to the fact that there was a Professor Bartholomew’s ancestor, named John Bellinger, who taught at the university during that period.

However, this investigation took a turn for the worse when they found a fellow student, Ethan, dead in his locked room with the same message on a note, “J.B. has my heart.” The mystery was no longer a mere intriguing curiosity but a chilling reality.

As they shared the news with Professor Bartholomew, his reaction was a mix of shock and delight. He promptly said, “Now this is what I call active learning!” His joviality, despite the grim circumstance, struck them as odd.

As the campus was seized by fear, Daisy noticed something uncanny. The old key she had found fit the lock of a secret compartment in the statue of the university’s founder. Inside was a blood-chilling sight: a small, glass jar containing a preserved human heart.

With the campus under police lockdown, our four friends decided to confront Professor Bartholomew. To their surprise, he wasn’t surprised. Instead, he laughed uproariously, exclaiming, “Oh, brilliant! You’re onto something, but not quite there yet.”

Exasperated and frightened, they decided to consult their psychology professor, Dr. Harper. Sharing their findings, they noticed her growing increasingly pale. She revealed that she was a direct descendant of John Bellinger and that she had discovered the same diary years ago.

“But I thought it was just a family legend. I never took it seriously.” Dr. Harper confessed. “J.B., the murderer, was my ancestor, but I swear I have nothing to do with Ethan’s death.”

Then came the plot twist that no one saw coming. Dr. Harper’s assistant, a soft-spoken grad student named Brian, revealed himself. He was the one committing these murders, inspired by the legend of J.B. to revive the century-old mystery. His initials, “J.B.,” were a creepy coincidence, or perhaps a twisted destiny.

Brian, who was expecting the students to accuse Professor Bartholomew, was taken aback when they confronted him instead. The quartet had deduced the truth from the oddities in his behavior and his peculiar interest in their investigation.

As it turns out, Brian had also found Martha’s diary independently and started the deadly game. The professor’s strange behavior and creepy ancestor story were merely red herrings that added a touch of humor to their eerie adventure.

In the end, Brian was arrested, and our heroic foursome was commended for their bravery and keen investigative skills. And although the murders were solved, the legend of the ghost tours became even more chilling, with Professor Bartholomew delighting in adding this real-life murder mystery to his tales.

And so, the laughter, chills, and frights continued in the hallowed halls of the university, where murder mysteries were as much a part of the curriculum as were history and psychology.

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Emancipated and living alone, Sam worked multiple jobs, barely scraping by. He was a fry-cook by morning, a mechanic in the afternoon, and a janitor at a corporate skyscraper at night. He lived by a quote his dad once told him, “Life can be tough, son, but you’re tougher.”

One night, a few weeks after Sam turned 18, as Sam was cleaning the 30th floor of the skyscraper, he overheard a conversation between two men in sleek suits. They were discussing a vacant entry-level position in their department. Seeing an opportunity, Sam decided to apply.

With his quick wit, charm, and an uncanny ability to turn the worst situations into comical ones, Sam not only secured the job but also quickly became the office favorite. His colleagues often found themselves laughing at his anecdotes, forgetting the stress of their work, even if momentarily.

However, as he climbed the corporate ladder, strange things started to happen. Unexplainable power outages, eerie sounds in the night, and his boss’ strange obsession with an antique locket. His office, once a symbol of his success, now seemed like a scene from a horror movie.

One night, alone in the office, the lights flickered and went out. The only light came from the moon outside the window, casting long, eerie shadows. Suddenly, he heard a soft whisper in the darkness. His heart pounded in his chest. “It’s just your imagination,” he told himself, trying to make light of the situation. But the whispers grew louder, morphing into a recognizable voice – his mother’s. His blood ran cold.

As days passed, the paranormal events intensified. Sam decided to investigate, believing that there was a logical explanation behind everything. His quest led him to discover the dark history of the corporation – a tale of greed, betrayal, and a cursed locket. His boss was a descendant of the corporation’s founder who was rumored to have betrayed his business partner, leading to the latter’s tragic death.

Armed with this knowledge, Sam devised a plan to break the curse, which was as outrageous and comical as himself. It involved a raccoon (an unfortunate nod to the pastor’s wig), three cans of beans, and a daring attempt to snatch the locket from his boss’s neck during a company-wide performance of YMCA.

The plan was chaotic, funny, and somehow, miraculously, successful. The curse was lifted, and the eerie occurrences stopped. With the mystery solved, Sam returned to his usual work routine. But this time, he had a new title – not just a corporate executive, but also the company’s unofficial ghostbuster.

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The effects on Fear on Human Behavior

These questions may seem impossible to answer without getting into complicated psychological theories, however there is one thing every psychologist will agree upon — fear plays a crucial part not only in everyday life but also in mental health disorders and physical illnesses.

We’ve evolved to live in dangerous environments filled with threats ranging from predators to infections. Our bodies respond automatically by creating strong negative reactions in order to protect ourselves against possible harm. In other words, fear helps us survive. But sometimes the reaction gets out of hand causing problems. Expressing fear properly can help.
For example, when dealing with a scary situation, people often freeze up and become unable to move. This response makes sense because if we were constantly running away each time something was chasing us, we’d never get anything done! However, while our body’s natural responses are necessary to keep us safe, they are also capable of going too far and becoming problematic.

What role does fear play in relation to phobias

In fact, most of the world’s population suffers from some kind of fear related issue. According to research, about 50 percent of Americans suffer from specific phobia. There are hundreds of different types of phobias including agoraphobia (fear of open places), claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces), acroterionphobia (fear of heights) and many more.

Phobias are classified under a range of disorders including generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Unfortunately, these conditions are usually very difficult to treat due to their complexity. The reason behind this is that unlike simple feelings like joy, grief or embarrassment which tend to pass quickly within minutes, fear lasts much longer than those positive emotions. It doesn’t matter whether someone feels happy after seeing his favorite movie or sad over losing her beloved pet, both emotional experiences fade away quickly compared to those associated with fearful emotions. On top of that, many patients find treatment methods ineffective because they don’t address the root cause of their condition.

So, what exactly is fear? Is there a solution for overcoming it? Can you express fear in a healthy manner? How can it be controlled? Does everyone who faces a frightening situation end up developing long term anxieties? Find answers below.

The stages of fear

According to Dr. Daniel Pine, director of the University of Miami School of Medicine’s Center for Movement Disorders Research, there are three basic stages of fear: normal, acute and chronic. While the first stage refers to healthy physiological reactions caused by external stimuli, the second type involves extreme distress and avoidance behaviors triggered by internal factors such as thoughts, memories and imagination. The third and final phase starts appearing once the original problem becomes persistent and continues despite attempts to stop its progression.

Chronic fear affects 1 million American adults annually and includes symptoms such as low self-esteem, depression, insomnia and various forms of pain syndromes. Most cases of chronic fear start occurring during childhood although adult trauma could play a major role in triggering certain phobias later on in life.

The origin of fear

Recognizing the signs of acute fear can be simple, there are a few ways. Symptoms include rapid heartbeat, dry mouth, sweating and shortness of breath. When fear turns into chronic state, it typically develops gradually over years and manifests itself through constant worrying, rumination, helplessness, irritability and despair among others.
Why do we experience fear?

Scientists still aren’t sure where exactly fear originates but psychologists believe that it stems from primitive parts of our brain called amygdala. These areas trigger fight-flight reflexes responsible for releasing adrenaline into bloodstream leading to increased heart rate and blood pressure. They also create unpleasant sensations via the thalamus, hypothalamus and periaqueductal gray area located right above the spinal cord. Together, these mechanisms allow animals to detect potential dangers and prepare themselves accordingly. Humans use similar systems but also add another component known as prefrontal cortex, which allows us to think rationally before acting. As soon as PFC detects imminent threat, it activates higher functions like speech production, thinking and reasoning.

Can fear be a good thing?

Acute fear isn’t always bad though. We need it in moments of emergency to alert us to immediate danger. Without this mechanism, our brains might begin associating fear with everything around us. A person walking down a dark street alone at night might suddenly imagine being attacked so he begins sprinting in hopes of reaching safety faster. Or a woman driving home late at night might see a stranger lurking nearby trying to catch sight of her license plate number. These examples help delineate just how simple it can be for our brain to distinguish real threats from imagined ones. Otherwise, fearing shadows won’t work well enough to save lives.

However, excessive amounts of fear are unhealthy since they limit a person’s ability to handle stressful situations. If you spend more hours worried about potential threats instead of focusing on actual challenges ahead, you’ll eventually lose motivation and energy needed to deal with daily tasks. Some studies show that prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol, the main hormone responsible for keeping our metabolism stable, leads to obesity and poor sleep quality. So, if your job requires staying awake all day and working overtime, try avoiding dwelling on your recent mistakes until tomorrow morning.

What are the effects of fear on humans?

While experiencing fear is essential, having difficulty controlling it can lead to serious consequences. People who face frequent terrifying events display lower tolerance for risk taking and thus fail to achieve goals set forth in front of them. At the same time, excessive fear creates additional stress which can negatively impact overall mood and performance. Overwhelming worry can result in sleepless nights and inability to concentrate. It also disrupts eating habits and proper hygiene resulting in weight gain.

Acute episodes of fear can even force people to withdraw completely from social activities or family interactions. Furthermore, those struggling with chronic fear are more likely to develop depression, substance abuse and suicidal tendencies.

Other side effects include reduced productivity, diminished creativity, lowered immune system function and compromised cardiovascular health. All of these issues together contribute to greater vulnerability for future medical complications.

Phobias & exaggerated fear

Most common phobias share one thing in common — exaggerated fear toward objects or surroundings. Agoraphobics, for instance, react strongly whenever leaving home unattended. Claustrophobic individuals shy away from closed rooms and narrow passages. Social phobias refer to irrational fear towards strangers, public speaking and group settings. Posttraumatic stress disorder occurs following severe terroristic event(s). While some phobias occur naturally due to genetics, others happen as a result of a traumatic incident.

Phobias can be treated using cognitive behavioral therapy combined with medications. Medications used for treating phobias include benzodiazepines, antidepressants and beta blockers. Benzodiazepines act on receptors in the central nervous system helping relieve symptoms. Antidepressants decrease activity in regions involved in processing negative information originating from the limbic system. Beta blockers reduce sympathetic tone improving relaxation and reducing muscle tension.

Cognitive behavioral therapies focus primarily on changing thought patterns and beliefs associated with phobias through education and gradual desensitization techniques. Although treatments vary depending on patient needs, results generally take months to appear. Sometimes, patients must undergo multiple sessions in order to reach full recovery.

Can you learn how to control your fears or eliminate them altogether?

One approach to manage fear relies on mindfulness meditation training. By practicing skills aimed at calming the mind and increasing awareness, you’ll better understand yourself and your own reactions. You can then choose appropriate coping strategies based on your personal preferences and build new neural pathways in your brain allowing you to cope with threatening scenarios easier.

Another option is biofeedback therapy designed specifically to combat phobias. During sessions, trained professionals monitor your vital statistics and record changes in bodily signals associated with anxiety. Afterward, participants receive feedback showing what worked best for them individually and how to improve existing abilities. Both approaches require repeated practice and dedication to reap maximum benefits. Yet, neither method guarantees instant success. Depending on severity and duration of your phobias, it can take weeks or even months to notice improvements.

Another alternative that works fast comes from hypnotherapy which focuses on modifying subconscious processes underlying your current behaviors. Hypnotists utilize guided imagery to guide clients’ minds away from triggers connected with phobias. Their goal is to replace negative associations with positive alternatives.

Is there any way out from feeling scared all the time?

Yes, there are numerous resources available to help you overcome your fears. First off, remember that most fears are perfectly reasonable. Just because somebody got freaked out by spiders doesn’t mean they’re actually allergic to bugs. Similarly, just because you had a nasty encounter with a snake doesn’t mean snakes inherently scare you. Momentarily, take a deep breath and asked yourself: Was it really a close call? Did you witness any suspicious actions?

Asking yourself those questions & following the other steps outlined in this article, can help you properly express fear & handle it in the healthiest way.

If you enjoyed this content, feel free to check out some of our other content!

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Why We Celebrate Halloween

When was Samhain first celebrated? 

According to Irish legend, Samhain (pronounced “seem” or “say”) means “summer ending.” It marks the end of summer and the start of winter in Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England. The Celts believed there were only two seasons: Summer and Winter. During Samhain, which falls on November 1st this year, the sun sets on October 31st and does not rise again until around mid-December.

Historians believe Samhain may have been derived from an old Gaelic word meaning “end,” but others say it comes from a Proto-Celtic root *sem-, meaning “to shine”.

What are some fun facts about Halloween?

Legend has it that Samhain was established by Fionn mac Cumhaill (“Son of Cú Chulainn“), one of several legendary heroes who emerged during Ireland’s 15th century Tuatha Dé Danann war against their enemies, the Fir Bolg (ancient Britons). According to Irish mythology, Fionn killed many enemy warriors at night while disguised as a bird called Cathbad mac Morna (“the blackbird king”).

Another story tells of a pagan goddess named Eithne, known as Queen Maeve of Connacht, whose name translates into English as Eve. She lived among the Gaels (Gaelic-speaking inhabitants) before Christianity arrived in Ireland. One autumn evening, she went out trick-or-treating with her daughter Ních Muimhnaigh, also known as Niall No Scalpealla, or Niall of the Nine Hostages. They visited houses where no food had been left over from the harvest season earlier that fall.

When they got hungry later that night, they ate apples because they didn’t know any better. Later, they learned what happened that night was actually bad luck for those who did not leave anything for the fairies.

In addition to apple seeds being considered unlucky, some cultures associate eating pumpkin seeds with death. In fact, according to folklorist David A. Leeming, the phrase, “Don’t eat the pumpkin pie tonight!” dates back to 1881.

Why we celebrate Halloween – Why do we dress up like skeletons?

Many historians agree that traditional costume parties began during the Victorian Era in 19th century Britain. However, other experts claim the practice stems from the early Christian era, when Christians dressed up as martyrs and angels. These types of disguises allowed them to go door-to-door without worrying about harassment or violence.

Fast forward to the 20th century, when American adults started attending masquerade balls at home as part of a trend toward more private celebrations after World War II. But these weren’t just fancy soirees — they often included music and dancing. By the 1950s, wearing costumes became much less controversial than dressing up as characters from films such as Dracula and Frankenstein.

Today, Americans spend $7 billion annually on costumes alone. And the popularity of group gatherings doesn’t seem to be waning anytime soon. According to Nielsen data, 91 percent of U.S. households hosted a party celebrating Halloween last year, including almost half of all millennials.

So why don’t kids want to celebrate Halloween anymore?

Some argue the commercialization of Halloween has contributed to fewer children participating in the event today. For example, Trick-Or-Treat Baskets give candy away door-to-door instead of allowing participants to pick it themselves. Many cities now require residents to display orange safety signs outside their homes.

But others think it might come down to something simpler. Some families simply prefer having their own celebration rather than joining groups organized by churches or schools. With this option, parents can control exactly how long their child spends playing outdoors on Halloween night. There’s also the possibility that younger generations are simply too busy with homework and extracurricular activities to make time for Halloween.

Regardless of the reason, many parents have found ways to keep their children excited about the holiday. Some encourage their kids to participate in community events, such as volunteering at local haunted hay rides, carnivals and parades. Others host special dinners for family members and friends, complete with spooky decorations, games and crafts.

And if you’re looking to bring little ones into the mix, try making costumes yourself together with your kid. You could even bake treats to donate to needy families or shelters. If you need inspiration, here are 10 easy DIY ideas for creating a scary costume.

If you’d still like to experience the thrill of going door-to-door, check out these tips for safe trick-or-treating.

Is it okay to use makeup to look ghostly?

While it’s true that using face paint to create frightening masks is frowned upon by some communities, we’ve seen enough movies and TV shows depicting ghosts and ghouls walking among us to understand that they aren’t really real. Sure, they appear to be made of flesh and blood, but nothing supernatural happens when someone steps inside a movie theater or television set. Ghosts don’t bleed or scream. So, you see, dressing up as ghosts isn’t nearly as terrifying as watching them on film.

However, if you decide to use face paints and makeup to help scare trick-or-treaters, remember that everyone should feel comfortable leaving their mask on once they arrive home. Also, consider asking older siblings or neighbors to watch your house in case anyone gets hurt or feels uncomfortable.

Do I need permission to decorate my yard?

That depends. While homeowners are free to deck their yards with pumpkins, corn stalks and gourds, city officials usually won’t allow decorations to block pedestrian traffic or otherwise harm neighborhoods. Check ahead of time to find out whether your town has specific regulations regarding outdoor decorations.

It seems that every culture celebrates the beauty of life through different holidays and rituals. We hope you enjoyed learning more about the origins of Halloween. Happy haunting!

Modern Day Halloween Traditions

As we move further into the 21st century, we continue to embrace new trends and traditions. Here are some modern-day features associated with Halloween and part of the reason why we celebrate Halloween:

Costume contests: From elementary school students competing for top honors in class to college students vying for cash prizes, Halloween costume contests abound across the country. Whether held at universities, corporations or neighborhood streets, contestants compete for glory, money, trophies and fame.

Spooky songs: Everyone knows “Monster Mash”; however, few recall the lyrics of John Carpenter’s classic tune, “Children of the Corn.” Regardless of age, song requests include tunes like “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” and “Thriller.”

Scary movies & stories: Of course, horror flicks play a big role in getting into the spirit of things. Movies such as Saw, Paranormal Activity, Insidious and Evil Dead 2 provide plenty of scares for both young and old audiences alike.

Haunted Houses: Today, hundreds of thousands visit Haunted Attractions each year. Most offer opportunities to interact with actors and roam freely throughout the grounds. Visitors can enjoy attractions ranging from live entertainment performances to interactive exhibits.

Door-to-door trick-or-treating: Although it wasn’t always the norm, nowadays many communities allow children to walk door-to-door handing out candies and snacks. Parents typically accompany younger tricksters, ensuring proper behavior and safety. Older children receive their own bags filled with items like glow sticks, flashlights and cell phones.

Face painting: Just like clowns used to entertain crowds years ago, artists specializing in temporary facial art fill parks, festivals and streets with color. Creators strive to produce realistic effects using watercolors, oil paints and stencils, along with brushes, knives and glue guns.

Whether you choose to attend a Halloween parade, throw a themed dinner party, show up to a haunted attraction or stay indoors to carve jack-o’-lanterns, carving pumpkins remains a beloved way to add flare to the annual holiday ritual. Be sure to enjoy yourself and continue reading our origins of Halloween article for more details on Celtic legend, why Halloween is on October 31^st, and modern Halloween traditions.

Holiday spirit & How it relates to Halloween

When you think about the holidays that are most popular around the world, many will probably come to mind. Christmas is sure to be top on any list followed by Thanksgiving then New Year’s Eve. But what other holiday has become so widespread as to almost completely overshadow all others? That would certainly be Halloween.

While it may not be your first thought when thinking about how much “holiday spirit” there is out there, Halloween is one of those rare occasions where you can find something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for costumes, decorations or just some time with family and friends over a meal, this day is bound to bring some joy! Let’s take a look at why this beloved occasion is such a big deal.

What Is Hallmark?

One thing that makes Halloween special is its association with greeting cards. While they’ve been around since 1839, modern-day Americans didn’t start buying them until after World War II. These days, American Greetings sells more than 1 billion annually while Hallmark comes close behind with 800 million. Both companies continue to dominate the industry, but their rise began during this period.

As these two card giants grew into popularity, they eventually became synonymous with the season itself. So, if you go online and search for either company, chances are good you’ll see a huge selection of items related to the holiday. Some might even call it an official part of our culture now.

But let’s get back to Halloween celebrations & the origins of Halloween. What exactly does this annual event represent? Well, the name actually means All Hollows Day which was likely named because the word hollow refers to caves or shelters. However, due to superstitions surrounding witches and black magic, nocturnal gatherings were discouraged. This meant turning night into day, hence trick-or-treating.

Nowadays, however, festivities like parades, parties, costume contests and games are common throughout North America, Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa and South America. In fact, you could argue that Halloween is celebrating more than its namesake festival ever did.

The Origins of Halloween

In order to fully understand the origins of Halloween and how Halloween evolved, we must first examine the origins of Samhain, also known as All Saints’ Day, November 1st. Back in 325 AD, Pope Gregory decided to create new calendar months based off existing ones instead of simply adding additional numbers to make up January through December. As a result, October became dedicated to saints who had died (hence the term holy).

By 500 AD, Christians started referring to November 2nd as All Saints’ Day. Because this date fell near Christmastime, it took several centuries before pagans adopted the same idea. By 400 AD, Germanic tribes had already begun celebrating Novuvalis Maior, literally meaning “the greater new month.” Eventually, Celts added three extra names to give us November’s leer, Verzemeltesre, and Kneelmester. When combined with the Roman Catholic Church’s calendar system, the final version of All Souls’ Day finally emerged.

So why did Halloween end up being Oct 31st? Although, All Souls’ Day technically occurred nine weeks earlier, Christianity spread faster than the church calendar could keep up. According to legend, Martin Luther changed the date to coincide with his birthday in 1517. Since he wasn’t baptized until October 10th, he felt that the celebration should occur later in the year.

This explains why the Western Christian tradition places Halloween on October 31st. Many claim that Halloween only really caught fire once movies like IT and Harry Potter hit theaters in the 1990s. They brought international attention to this otherwise low-key party.

Today, however, Halloween isn’t reserved exclusively for kids. There are plenty of adults who ask why we celebrate Halloween & who love dressing up too. If you want to attend a masquerade ball, fancy dress convention or parade, don’t worry. Plenty of events exist specifically for grownups.

Despite the change in focus, the actual traditions themselves have remained relatively unchanged. You won’t find zombies roaming the streets dressed in scary masks or women dancing naked in circles unless you live in certain areas. Instead, Halloween is mostly characterized by fun activities centered around food, candy and the use of alcohol.

It’s important to note that despite the differences between children’s and adult versions, both experiences are equally unique. After all, it’s hard to deny that having access to tons of sugar is a great way to spend a weekend evening.

Why People Celebrate Halloween

To put it lightly, Halloween is primarily used to express appreciation toward God. Not unlike Christmas, it represents a chance for families and loved ones to gather together and enjoy each other’s presence.

Because of the dark nature associated with Satanism, many people feel uncomfortable attending churches and public temples. For this reason, many choose to celebrate their own personal beliefs. Why we celebrate Halloween together is usually do to the festive nature of a costume party.

Aside from religion, another notable theme present within celebrations is spookiness. Traditionally, Halloween was supposed to mimic the feeling of fear experienced during pre-Christian times. Thanks to Hollywood and pop culture, though, these feelings aren’t quite as strong anymore. Nowadays, it seems that anything goes.

Most Halloween enthusiasts choose to incorporate themes that reflect their interests and hobbies. A lot of people enjoy creating costumes and decorating homes, while others prefer spending time outside playing tricks on unsuspecting neighbors. Others still try to stay away from crowds altogether and retreat indoors to watch horror flicks.

However, if you decide to celebrate Halloween, rest assured that you’ll always be able to find enough ways to entertain yourself even if you don’t feel like leaving the house. There are many movie marathons, spooky themed Twitch streams, and you can even have your own collection of Halloween movie marathons! If you do decide to leave, just remember that staying safe doesn’t mean avoiding all forms of socialization. Take advantage of your local community center, library, park or grocery store. They offer ample opportunities to meet other people without exposing yourself unnecessarily and also generally host a Halloween party filled with scary costumes.

Finally, if you want to explore your darker side further, consider participating in haunted house tours. Most tend to run $10-$25 per person depending on location, age group and ticket cost. Be prepared to walk miles upon miles though. On average, a tour takes approximately four hours to complete.

Hallowtide In the Modern ERA

With all that said, it’s easy to see why  we celebrate Halloween and why is currently such a revered holiday across the globe. Its roots remain deep within human society, allowing it to appeal to anyone and everyone regardless of background. With these universal underpinnings, Halloween continues to grow stronger every year.

Interestingly, Halloween hasn’t always been so commercialized. Before the 20th century, it was mainly celebrated among rural communities. Even now, you can often spot small villages holding block parties and picnics. Although not nearly as elaborate as bigger cities, these smaller events provide a vital sense of community.

During the 1970s, though, manufacturers saw potential profits in selling plastic pumpkins, ghosts and ghouls. Alongside the emergence of massive chains like Dollar General and Target, stores quickly adapted to cater to larger audiences. Soon, supermarkets, malls, amusement parks and movie studios joined the fray. Due to the growing demand for products, prices shot up dramatically.

Since the 1980s, major retailers haven’t stopped advertising Halloween sales. Stores like Walmart and Toys R Us advertise heavily all year round, but especially leading up to the big day. To combat this issue, consumers have turned to ecommerce platforms like Amazon and eBay. Online shopping remains incredibly convenient, so it’s no wonder that it’s becoming increasingly popular.

On the bright side, Halloween is still largely free from brand competition thanks to its lack of copyright restrictions. Unlike Christmas, creators can freely use images and sounds. Additionally, a single songwriter gets to write songs for multiple artists, which allows him to earn royalties for years to come.

Lastly, it’s worth mentioning that Halloween is also sometimes referred to as Dia de Los Muertos, Spanish for “Day of the Dead.” While this holiday typically occurs on November 1st, the tradition has recently made appearances elsewhere. One example is Mexico, where the last Thursday of September becomes Día de los muertos. Another is Argentina, where the second Saturday in October is called Feria de la Vida (“Life Fair”).

The Future Of Halloween

For better or worse, Halloween is here to stay. Despite efforts to push it aside, this internationally recognized feast will undoubtedly stick around for decades to come.

Over recent years, the holiday has seen an influx of non-traditional ideas and trends. Unfortunately, while these elements add diversity, they often detract from the overall experience.

Some examples include cheap knockoffs sold online or overly expensive costumes designed to impress strangers. Aside from the occasional negative comment on Twitter or Reddit, discussions rarely devolve into arguments. Thankfully, the vast majority of participants maintain respect for one another.

However, Halloween shouldn’t be taken lightly. Like many things, it works best when done right. Think ahead and prepare wisely. If you enjoyed this article or video, please click below for more of our content.

The post Why we celebrate Halloween – The Origins of Halloween appeared first on Halloween Stories.

Lots of people ask, why is Halloween a scary time of year? Many people reply with the lazy answer “Because it’s supposed to be!” or because of the weather, or because of commercials – or perhaps because of their parents’ generational traditions, but really, the magic of Halloween is in the DNA of America, tracing back to the Celtic heartlands of Gaul.

This is where the ancient pagan festival/celebration/observation of Samhain started in the world, and from there it spread throughout Europe and all across the world as Hallows Eve or Halloween. It was considered to be the Celtic New Year.

Ancient Gaul/The North

Gaul is a pretty scary place to imagine, many people think “The North” in Game Of Thrones was inspired by Julius Caeser’s depiction of Gaul and Gaulish men (Modern day France/Britain/Belgium). It wasn’t a joint state like modern-day America or Rome of its day, it was a loose confederation of states that would ally and war with each other constantly, they are some of the original “Vikings” or ‘Celts'(900 years after the Gauls give or take) some people call them, ‘Brythons’, many many things, but Gauls works quite well I think.

The Gauls practiced the magic of the land and believed in the gods of the land. They may have had their own pantheon of Gods, but we do not have the direct knowledge of Old Gallic passed down to us, only tales. We do know the Gauls neighbors and descendants worshipped the gods Thor & Odin and sacrificed their own tribe’s members (who would go willingly) to have a favorable battle.

So, to recap, we have an ancient land, where it’s common practice sacrificing your friend because you think you can kill people better tomorrow, barbarian White Walker land, that fits pretty well with the idea of Halloween, now let’s add the idea that they were REALLY obsessed with Death.

Why is Halloween Scary? Restless Spirits.

They loved combat and believed upon death in combat they would be reincarnated into more combat, ad infinitum, but what scared them is restless spirits wandering the moors and marshes, Ghasts or as we call them today, Ghosts. These are restless spirits who couldn’t escape this world by way of peace or by way of battle, they have unfinished business on this earth, glitches in the matrix, so to speak.

Now, the only thing that scares these people who sacrifice their brother to have a better duel, is the concept of people being unable to die, stuck in a purgatory state, a Ghost. The ghosts are of course angry and vengeful at people who are alive, mostly restless souls who probably had a very hard life and or unfinished business in life, they believed their souls roamed on the open planes at night, and on Halloween, they could transcend into our world.

The Gauls thought it better to just honor these spirits, and try to trick them, to make the spirits think they were as miserable as they were, so they would dress up in miserable costumes to try to fool the evil spirits into thinking they themselves were an evil spirit.

Conclusion – What to take from this?

You can see how this becomes like Halloween very quickly, with things getting quite confusing if everyone’s dressed up how are you supposed to know where the REAL spirits are?

This is why Halloween is scary, most everyone’s ancestors, or someone you know ancestors, followed these haunting traditions of literally pretending to be some sort of haunted, demented spirit or soul in ancient France and Britain, so it’s in our culture to be frightened and entertained simultaneously by such things.

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Shannon. 19, wiry, likes to online shop. “No, that’s ridiculous” she thought. Shannon has been attempting to fill out her dating profile for months. She’s socially awkward and academically ahead of everyone in her class. She wasn’t going to go to college, but it was that or take a low paying, dead end job, even though she did that anyway to take away some of the unseen costs of actually being a college student.

“You’re never gonna meet anyone if you can’t even figure out how to introduce yourself. It’s pretty funny actually”, her sister Angie quipped while scavenging in the cupboards for something to eat. “Yeah, that’s nice” Shannon quipped back staring out the window at the inevitable rain that clouds the neighborhoods every late April in the mid-west.

“You know, I really like how this looks. I wish I didn’t have to order it. I wonder if some place local has this?”. Angie questioned while scrolling through her tablet. Angie stands up and walks over to the window to see what Shannon is staring at. “You know I was just giving you shit” she backpedaled. “I kn-” Shannon stopped speaking mid sentence and both girls look over at the tablet. *PING*.

“Wow, hey, look. They actually have this necklace at the Saint & Sinner shop over off 4th street”, Angie remarked, staring down at the tablet then back up at Shannon with wanting eyes. “No”, Shannon said. “WHY NOT?! You know I have to work. Come on, pleasssseeee. I’ll owe you BIG TIME!”. Shannon looked up at the clock and back out the window. “Sure, I guess, but you know I hate going down over that way”, Shannon asserted, flooded with memories that she’d much rather forget.

Shannon put on her coat and shoes and grabbed her keys to head out the door when she noticed her laptop was still open with the page of the dating site still open. She sighed with exhaustion and closed her laptop. “Maybe later”, she stated, while having every intention of opening it back up later and finishing her profile. “Why can’t I meet anyone?” She thought while getting into her car. Oh, let’s not open that book.

10th street, 11th street, 12th, 13th street….15th street? How could I have missed it, she thought as she turned around to see where she went wrong. She pulled down the street back to 13th and stared from 13th to 15th street, very confused. Looking down towards 15th, she could see a slit dip in the road that resembled another street.

Shannon pulled down the street and sure enough, there was a smaller, not visible from the road if you drive by, dirt road that had a worn down sign at the front of it. “14th street” Shannon said aloud, with an annoyed tone cascading her inner monologue. Shannon parked, killed the ignition, and walked up to the store. “It looks like a ghost town around here” she thought, looking around at the dreary landscape.

She walked into the quaint but creepy little store. “Who would buy any of this stuff” as she looked around the store at the vast array of what seemed like spices, clothes that could have been made in 1850, and what seemed like gadgets that were already broken before someone even bought them. She made her way to what seemingly was a glass case with an array of jewelry.

“Wow” she thought reassuringly. “I was wrong, these pieces are beautiful. Even if I can buy one of these, Angie will owe me for the rest of her life”. Shannon thought to herself.

“CAN I help you?” A plump man with glasses sporting the name tag that read”Watson” said, quite loudly. “Uh, well I..” Shannon trailed off as she caught the glimmer of a necklace that seemingly called her name as it gleams. “Ah. That item is..of rare value”, Watson exclaimed as he caught Shannon’s gaze.

“However, we can make exceptions, can’t we?”. “Feel free to try it on, but beware, this is not the kind of item you want to become addicted to buying”. The shopkeeper warned. “I cannot possibly afford it anyway” Shannon moaned begrudgingly. With a gleam in his eye and slight grin, Shannon noticed but disregarded, he said “We are running a special right now on Jewelry. $50 miss, and it’s yours”.

“Oh, well, alright”. Shannon said, reaching into her pocket. *Ding* the registers sound alarmed as it scraped closed. “This bitch better pay me back” Shannon thought, remember that Angie was now on part-time hours at her restaurant. Shannon drove in the opposite direction of the shop and noticed a color change in her rear-view mirror. She noted that the shop’s light was off.

What kind of shop closes at 3pm? Must not be a very popular shop, she thought. Shannon pulled into the driveway of her parents house and got out of the car. As she turned the key inside of the front door, she thought she heard footsteps on the sidewalk behind her. She whipped around quickly, only to see nothing. A blank street. A dog barking ominously a few streets over only compounding Shannon’s anxiety.

She locked the front door behind her and climbed the stairs to her bedroom. Opening the door, she flung open her laptop, and sat down in front of her computer. The dating website popped up again. “I REALLY don’t feel like dealing with this right now”, she thought. She sat down on the bed and nudged the bag from the Saint & Sinner shop, knocking it down to the floor.

The bag was slightly open and gleaming back at her was Angie’s beautiful necklace. Shannon picked up the bag, slowly pulling the necklace out, she held it up to her neck. Shannon clasped the necklace around her neck. “Wow, this is way too nice for me”, she discouragingly reminded herself. Shannon walked over to her bed and laid down. Looking down at the bag from the gift shop, “I’ll get it in a second” Shannon thought.

A warm feeling flooded Shannon’s mind & body. “I feel great and drained, simultaneously” – she thought out loud. Standing up, she walked passed her mirror to go downstairs and stopped dead in her tracks. “Oh my God…”. Shannon’s cheek bones were lifted, her hair was straightened and without the split ends that were hanging from it yesterday, and her skin was perfectly clear.

It was as if someone took all of her features and upgraded them. Perfect skin, I mean, who even has that? Shannon looked down and noticed that she was still wearing Angie’s necklace. She went to go take it off and paused, while looking at herself in the mirror. With an evil grin, Shannon dropped her hands, and opened her laptop.

TO BE CONTINUED.

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