GHOSTS ARE HERE

According to ancient Celtic and other cultures, the border separating this world and the nether world is very low around the end of this month. The departed spirits (both harmful and peaceful ones) make their presence felt more. This Halloween day on October 31st, be prepared to meet Ghouls, Vampires, Dracula, Werewolves, Goblins, Ogres, Ghosts and other sorry souls. According to Christian theology, the All Saint's day (Nov 1) commemorates all the souls who have attained heaven. All Souls day on November 2nd remembers the departed spirits and other wandering souls who have not yet reached heaven. The strong belief of the souls' movement around this time led to the observation of Halloween day where the spirits of the dead wander freely among humans, sometimes troubling them. In olden times, October 31st also marked the end of the harvest season, and people began to store stockpiles of food for the cruel winter. The bones of animals were cast into a big bonfire as a celebratory ritual and also to ward off the evil spirits which are active- and hence bonfires are a big part of Halloween. People dress up in scary costumes which is believed to scare off the departed spirits.

For children, Halloween is associated with the tradition of trick or treating. Children dress up as ghosts or fictional figures, and go from house to house to ask for treats. They should be provided with chocolates and candies or else they would threaten to caste an evil spell on the house! Pumpkin carving is also associated with this day where grotesque faces are carved on a pumpkin (much similar to the cultures of some Indian regions where faces are drawn on pumpkins to ward off the evil eye). Head hunting rituals by the Celts and the "Brazen Head" way of predicting the future (a device used by ancient wizards, which looked like a human head and could answer questions correctly in the form of a YES or a NO format) were probably the precursors of the pumpkin carving ritual which is followed today.

Horror stories are said, and all the ghastly myths about the dead people seem to come true on a Halloween day... Ghost tours, costume parties, horror movies and other ghoulish paraphernalia are everywhere. Though primarily aimed to keep the children entertained and scared, everybody should be on their toes. So beware, masquerade in a different attire and don't let the bad spirits recognize you! And don't look under your chair- there's a ghost hiding beneath you. Happy haunting!