Welcome, fearless readers, to a hysterically haunted journey through the comically spooky side of Halloween! Join us as we unravel the mysteries, embrace the thrills, and celebrate the dead! So grab your broomsticks and hop on- the ghostly ride is about to begin!

The Ghostly Beginnings: Samhain Shenanigans

Our journey kicks off with the Celts, who were onto something way back in the day. They celebrated Samhain around November 1st, marking the end of harvest and the start of winter. According to them, this was the time when the veil between the living and the dead got as thin as a ghost’s bedsheet. So, naturally, spirits would roam free, probably looking for the best Halloween party in the afterlife.

Saintly Intrusion: When All Saints’ Day Crashed the Party

Fast forward to the 8th century, when the Catholic Church decided to spice things up a bit. November 1st became All Saints’ Day, a time for honoring saints and martyrs. The night before? All Hallows’ Eve, or as we know it, Halloween. So, in a twist of ecclesiastical fate, the spooky became saintly – at least for a day.

Trick-or-Treating: Because Begging for Candy is Normal

Now, let’s talk about the real star of the show: trick-or-treating. At some point, someone decided it was a fantastic idea to send costumed kids door to door, demanding treats or threatening tricks. Imagine the first person who opened their door to a pint-sized pirate demanding candy. Classic!

Costume Capers: Dressing Up as Anything and Everything

Ah, the annual quest for the perfect costume –the one day a year when everyone becomes an amateur costume designer and a mission that can lead to brilliant strokes of creativity or hilarious fashion faux pas. Speaking of costumes, Halloween is the one day where dressing like a pirate, a vampire, or a taco is not only acceptable but encouraged. It’s the ultimate fashion free-for-all. Who cares if you’re a grown-up with a job? Today, you can be a wizard with a mortgage, or even dress up like a bunny, who cares?

Pumpkin Madness: From Jack-o’-Lanterns to Pumpkin Spice Everything

What’s Halloween without pumpkins? The Irish brought the tradition of carving scary faces into turnips (yes, turnips!) to ward off evil spirits. Thankfully, pumpkins entered the scene and became the canvas for our artistic expression. But let’s face it, not all pumpkin carving sessions go as planned. Some turn into unintentional abstract art, leaving us with pumpkins that resemble Picasso’s spooky phase. Anyhow, the spookier, the better! 

Haunted Houses: Because We Love Being Scared (Sort Of)

If you’re not getting a mild heart attack from a haunted house, is it Halloween? These spooky spectacles have become a staple of the season, where people pay good money to be scared out of their wits. It’s the only time of year where paying to be terrified is socially acceptable.

Halloween but make it #trendy

As we take a turn into modern Halloween traditions, can’t forget the tricky waters of Halloween hashtags, Snapchat filters that turn you into a zombie, and Instagram stories filled with spooky selfies. Also, the ghostly make-up filters and YouTube videos to get the job done, whether it’s pumpkin carving or Anabelle make-up tutorials. The tech-savvy side of Halloween, where even ghosts have smartphones. 

As we bid farewell to this chilling chronicle, May your Halloween be filled with frights, delights, and the kind of spooky magic that lingers in the air long after the last jack-o’-lantern flickers out. Whether you’re a master pumpkin carver, a costume expert, or just someone who enjoys a good ghost story, Halloween is the time to revel in the delightful blend of spooks, laughs, and memories. So, let the festivities commence & until next Halloween, dear readers, stay curious, stay eerie, and May the spirits be ever in your favor!

Written by: Rtr. Dinusha Elvitigala

Graphic design by: Rtr. Nuwani gamage