All Hollows Eve started out as a Celtic Festival around 2000 years ago. This festival, called Samhain, was celebrated on the night of October 31st. Since November 1st was their new year, the Celts believed the boundary between the living and dead became weak, making it easy for spirits to visit earth.
It’s spooky season CHS! Along with traditional fall festivities, preparation for Halloween costumes as well as the HUNT is in full swing. However, Halloween hasn’t always been trick or treating and cutting sheets.
All Hollows Eve started out as a Celtic Festival around 2000 years ago. This festival, called Samhain, was celebrated on the night of October 31st. Since November 1st was their new year, the Celts believed the boundary between the living and dead became weak, making it easy for spirits to visit earth. This meant getting into trouble and having Druids, who were similar to fortune tellers, predict the future in preparation for the long winter ahead. Celts gave animal and crop sacrifices and gathered around a fire dressed in animal hides.
As time went on and the Romans conquered much of their territory, holidays such as Feralia popped up. This holiday honored the dead and worshipped the goddess of fruit and trees, Pomona. Later on, October 31st became known as All Hollows Eve and November 1st as All Saints Day, dedicated to Christian martyrs and saints. Samhain hadn’t been forgotten, however, as November 2nd became All Souls day, with practices similar to the old Celtic festival to celebrate the dead.
America truly started partaking in Halloween in the 19th century, celebrating the new harvest, telling scary stories and getting into trouble. By the late 1800s, immigrants helped to push its popularity and solidify the traditions we have today. European traditions brought trick or treating, dressing up in costumes and going around asking for food or money. Halloween parties became popular. Also, the holiday became more family-friendly by toning down the superstitions and commemoration of ghosts and witchcraft. By the mid-1900s, Halloween celebrations were smaller and less community focused while trick or treating was ramped up for the kids. Today’s Halloween consists of parties, outrageous costumes, candy, and nationwide appreciation for anything scary or fall related.
Some inexpensive hair-raising Halloween festivities for Coventry adults, teens, and kids alike include:
Scary Acres: Located in Confreda Greenhouses and farms in Cranston, Rhode Island. People from all over the state get their money’s worth by being spooked, thrilled, or downright terrified! This establishment consists of a haunted hayride and corn maze. Scary Acres is open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 7 pm to 10 pm, from September 21st to October 28th. More information at https://www.scaryacresri.com/
Factory of Terror: Located in West Warwick at Misson Combat. This laser tag center goes dark for Halloween, transforming into a terrifying haunted house. Guests weave their way through dark hallways and killer infested rooms. The West Warwick location is open October weekends and Halloween, at 7 pm. More information at http://factoryofterror.com/west-warwick
Field of Screams: Located at Big John Layden’s Tree Farm in West Greenwich, Feild of Screams offers four haunted attractions in total, including The Dungeon of Doom, a terrifying haunted house, Dead River haunted hayride, Cirque Du Souls, a 4D attraction, and Zombie Paintball. Field of Screams is open Friday, Saturday, and Sundays in October and Halloween starting at 6:30. More information at http://www.hauntedhayride.net/attractions.php
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