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

I would say the majority of people participate in some type of celebration. My kids and grandkids are too old for trick or treating but I still enjoy all the kids coming by. Especially the little ones. I still give out treats and really have fun doing it.

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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 about half of the houses display Halloween decorations. Kids know that houses with displays likely give out candy/treats. The houses without displays but with lights on likely give out candy - these houses probably have no kids living there. If the lights are off it can mean the residents aren't giving anything, or they went to a party somewhere else. Occasionally I see notices at houses saying they refuse to participate in a "pagan" holiday. But nobody I ever spoke to thinks Halloween has any remaining connection to religion.

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

The ones on Instagram are going overboard because it’s Instagram.

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

Far from all. I'd say it depends on the neighborhood. My last neighborhood had a million kids, so I decorated a little and handed out candy. My current neighborhood has hardly a kid, and almost no decorations. It's all about kids.

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

All of them. I live in England now and I’ve explained that my sister and our friends used pillow cases for trick or treating. You have to live there and experience Halloween candy collecting. But honestly I’m glad I live here now and it’s really just not a thing. In America Halloween is second only to Christmas in money spent on candy, costumes and decorations. I can back this up with all the years spent as a man for Party City U.S. I was shocked yearly in the fact that we’d make millions in just a couple of months (September thru October) it’s nuts. As my mom would say, “Go big or go home!”

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

I am building up to the big displays because I didn't have room to store decorations before. But now that I do, I am definitely getting more into decorating!

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

Yes! And so many farms go all out with pumpkin patches, corn mazes, pies and all sorts of fun!

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

No, not all. Just enough to support billion dollars industries

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

Halloween is supposed to be fun. Anyone who takes it too seriously is doing it wrong.

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

Yeah we do! I am handing out candy in a Squid Game track suit (# 067) while sitting in my driveway with a glass of wine 😉

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

Some do, like the woman in the neighborhood I grew up in. She and her husband had no children but at Halloween, she'd put out a dozen or more 17 gallon/64+ lt. galvanized tubs of candy plus a Coca-Cola "box" filled with a hundred cokes. It was amazing. I think my husband and I have had a total of 12 trick or treaters at our various houses in our 38+ year together. We've always lived in rural areas. A friend of mine buys 500+ pieces of candy and usually runs out before the kids are done coming for the night.

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

Some people go bonkers. Some people will simply carve a pumpkin, wear orange on that day, or hand out candy. It's rare to find anyone who makes zero effort.

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

There are three schools of thought on the holidays. 1) people who are super excited for Christmas, 2) people who are super excited for Halloween, and 3) those of us who are pinching the bridge of our nose and waiting for the end of all this.

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

Because it’s really fun to decorate, carve pumpkins, plan a costume and go trick or treating. It is really fun if you like events.

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

At least good that you ask, people exaggerrate a lot on social media

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

It's impossible to find anything that all Americans do. But Halloween is widely celebrated, especially by kids and in areas with families.

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

Some people get really into it. Some don't. It's mostly for kids although adults do Halloween parties too.

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

It is my favorite holiday to decorate for . Who doesn't love spooky fun? Some people do scary , others do cute stuff so they don't scare the little kids .

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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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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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