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Sometimes people understand the word ‘culture’ in a very narrow sense. They may think that culture only includes art and very old traditions, but actually it also has a wider definition. It also encompasses the behavioral norms, the way we dress, the way we speak in different contexts and other aspects of our lives. 

We can say that the way we celebrate occasions also is a part of our culture. Festivities always attract the attention of people and it unites them even if they are from different cultures. However, we do not always understand why people in other places have certain traditions. For example, non-Americans have a lot of questions about Halloween because it is not that popular in places other than the USA and other people may view their dedication to the occasion as weird.

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Halloween is celebrated on the night of October 31 and it is believed that it has pagan roots. The customs may be influenced by folk folk customs and beliefs from the Celtic-speaking countries. The theory that is the most popular says that the celebration comes from ancient Celtic harvest festivals, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain.

Like many other celebrations, it is believed that the Samhain festival was Christianized by the early Church but others claim that it may have been Christian from the start. It is difficult to say as it evolved through many centuries and nobody held records of these kinds of things. 

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MizAdeleM
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That would be a yes. I have my Halloween tree set up in the front hallway, and my headstones out front. Halloween-...e600c3.jpg Halloween-2003-6165a05e600c3.jpg

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The Samhain festival marked the end of the harvest season and it meant the beginning of winter, when more than half of the day was dark so it was also a mysterious time. It was believed that on the day of the transition the boundaries between this and the other world would be less defined. 

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People believed that at this time spirits could enter their world and among gods, fairies and demons, their lost relatives could come to their home too. That is where all the treats come from as people would make a big dinner out of the harvest to make the spirits feel welcomed. 

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MizAdeleM
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I will be celebrating my first British Christmas this year, when I travel to visit family in the UK.

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Don't Look
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This year would have failed you. The decorations everywhere are all gone, have been for a couple weeks. In fact, I would wager that black friday is going to be a s**t show considering that it's already been made public that merchandise is going to be short this year.

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The Christian influence can be seen in the tradition that many Church festivities would start the day before, on the vigil as Halloween is the evening before the Christian holy days of All Hallows' Day on 1 November. That is where the name of Halloween actually comes from. 

If the pagans believed that the October 31 night is when spirits come to Earth in Christian tradition it is explained that on that day people should spend time honoring the saints and praying for the recently departed souls who have yet to reach Heaven. 

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AndThenICommented
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There’s some irony that the OP used the term “y’all” while calling the culture strange haha 😂

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Julie Harden
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's quicker to say "the 4th", "Halloween", and "Christmas". For me, it's all about efficiency.

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Skara Brae
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A few people rent costumes. Many purchase them, but they are such poor quality they may not last long. Some wear them again in subsequent years. People often make costumes from old, used clothing, or sometimes by sewing.

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Halloween didn’t become widely celebrated in North America until the 19th century when Irish and Scottish mass immigrated to the continent. Over time it evolved to this huge holiday that we see now and its influence can be felt all over the world.

Even though it was commercialized in modern times Halloween is not a superficial festivity without no meaning and created just for fun. It has some meaning to it and it has analogues in other countries too when the dead are honored and in some countries people will just light a candle, go to church or cemetery and in others they will celebrate this occasion with more bang and pizzazz.

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Lady of the Mountains
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

think...sweetened condensed milk? but in the texture of wax? meh, if you're european you probably wont like it

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There is actually more to Halloween than just a couple of paragraphs can contain so if you want to know more about its roots, researching it can actually reveal very interesting knowledge that you wouldn’t think to find. 

But there are things that only Americans can answer about how they celebrate it, why they feel it became such a big holiday and do they really need all those decorations. If there are any Americans reading this list with all the questions, the rest of the world would really want to know the answers so please write them in the comments! Also, don’t forget to upvote the questions that you would like to be answered the most!

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sofacushionfort
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, one of the holiday rituals is “demonstrate a psychological theory.” Most people chose the Tragedy of the Commons. Me, I’d think the Milgram Experiment more in keeping with the spirit of the holiday, but my lawyer pointed to its complications.

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Vivian Orr
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most people hand the candy out to the kids. That’s half the fun!! If they’ve left a bowl out for kids to take a piece it’s because they’re usually not home to hand it out. I would miss that, seriously it’s great fun. So you get kids who are really honest and just take one or two pieces and then you get the kids that will take a handful or two and then the really mean kids that just dump the whole bowl full in their sack. That’s usually caught on ring doorbells now that so many people have them. It’s too bad they have to ruin it for everyone else.

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juice
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

one of my friends had the idea to put a bowl out and hide in the bushes with a water gun. then if some mean kid tried to take too much candy, he would spray them with water!

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Skara Brae
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In my neighborhood, maybe 5 to 10 percent leave bowls. Most kids are good about it, but usually some older kid takes everything.

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Perfumista Perfumista
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live in an apatment building. Pretty much everyone on my floor does this, including me.

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~hUmMuS vIbEs~
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm pretty sure people in other countries do that too, but some jerk kids are always gonna ruin everything and take the whole thing.

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Emmie Jensen
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They always have the sign that say "take one" but they don't specify. One piece? One handful? One bowlful? I'm sorry to admit, me and my friends were the jerk kids who took most of the candy.

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tuzdayschild
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most people don't, but a few do. Usually with a sign that says "take one please".

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Lady of the Mountains
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

some do that, if they're leaving or don't want to be bothered. most kids know to just take one anyway, if they don't, the other kids won't know someone took theirs. what most people do is they stay inside and kids knock on their door

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MizAdeleM
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

New neighbors last year just popped a big bowl of candy out front and went to watch TV. Didn't last long as soon as one greedy kid came along and dumped the contents into his bag.

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JD Lee
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Only if they want to make one unaccompanied minor very, very happy.

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Jane W.
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sometimes, if you feel obligated to hand out candy but won't be home. But it's fairly unusual to do it that way. Greeting the kids is part of the ritual.

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Autumn
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some people do. It’s a horrible idea. The majority of the kids take way more than 1 piece.

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that rando_;)
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some parents also have to go out to supervise children and can't be home to hand out candy. Also, Halloween parties are very popular.

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L hill
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes. But don't expect the bowl to have anything in it by the time you get there. Word travels fast on the trick or treat trail.

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Mazer
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If they did, it wouldn’t last long. Most answer door bells or knocks, half the fun is seeing the costumes

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Kerri Peek
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just leave a bowl out as i am an introvert and my dogs would run out and scare kids. They're insane.

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Nicki
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did that ONE year so I could go out with my kids and caught teens on camera taking the whole bowl, so nope...never again! Every year since then, me or the hubs go out with the kids and one stays home. Now they are old enough to go out with friends, so all is good now.

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Spittnimage
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Probably a long time ago, but not anymore. People aren't nice and respectful like they used to be.

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Tamra Stiffler
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always liked handing candy out to the kids. Seeing all the fun costumes, and hearing the little voices say "trick or treat". So much fun!

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Printerman
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've done it. Usually there are parents who make sure the kids only take a couple pieces. The teen groups, well... it's a cr@p-shoot.

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Katchen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I leave a bowl so my husband and I can both go trick-or-treating with the kids. The humans in the neighborhood behave themselves, but once some raccoons got into the bowl.

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Tuna Fish
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not usually, the fun is answering the doorbell or sitting on the porch and seeing all the kiddies in their costumes come and say "trick or treat". But if you're not going to be home you just leave the bowl of candy and hope the older kids don't take it all at once.

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Jeff K
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most kids knock on doors, say "trick or treat," then the homeowners answer the door and hand out candy. We usually leave a bowl out after we go to bed. Once in rare while, a teenager will grab it all, but the vast majority of the time, kids take a couple pieces and leave the rest for others.

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Catie Marie
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We hope for the best in that all the candy is gone by midnight so we don't have to eat it.

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Debby B
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s a very nice thing to do for the kids if you can’t be home to answer the door.

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whateves
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When my son was young I totally did this while we went trick or treating.

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Pheebs
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Heck no. I have kids trying to shovel the bowl of candy in to their bags while I’m holding it. Some kids are just spoiled brats, some are over excited, and some this is one of the few times they have access to a lot of candy.

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Yort
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some do, but people steal the entire bowl sometimes. Not the candy. Literally the bowl.

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BoopBoop
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, and the neighborhood kids disappoint me every year.

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Nikki Sevven
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My family carves pumpkins every Halloween...and decorates cookies for Christmas, and dyes eggs for Easter...

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Cyndi Wrenn
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We dress up and have a contest for different categories of costumes

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Sara Rosen
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes. Why is it ok to decorate for Christmas but not Halloween? You do your things but Imma get me some ghouls for MY garden.

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BoopBoop
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's the only holiday we have that doesn't come with some kind of baggage. It's literally just for fun, and also to scare away the spirits walking abroad that might steal our souls.

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Stephanie Rohweder
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The best seasonal store ever. It's like Halloween Santa. Only shows up once a year and you never see it until spooky season

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NoneYa41
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the big ones that are carved aren't eating pumpkins. Just like there is 'field' corn that's used for animal feed and corn products which is not the corn you buy at the market to eat.

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Susan Rapacz
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where do you think we get our costumes and skeletons and witches and giant rubber rats and fake spider webs and coffins and monsters?

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NoneYa41
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the same reason people think Christmas is 2 months...media and marketing.

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