Halloween is a yearly celebration observed in a number of countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows’ Day. It initiates the triduum of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed believers. Within Allhallowtide, the traditional focus of All Hallows’ Eve revolves around the theme of using humor and ridicule to confront the power of death.

Scary History and Delicious Traditions

Typical festive Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, attending costume parties, decorating, carving pumpkins into Jack-o’-lanterns, lighting bonfires, visiting haunted houses, playing pranks, telling scary stories, and watching horror films.

Development of artifacts and symbols associated with Halloween formed over time. A popular symbol is the Jack-o’-lanterns which traditionally carried by guiders on All Hallows’ Eve in order to frighten evil spirits. There is a popular Irish Christian folktale associated with the Jack-o’-lantern, which in lore, is said to represent a “soul who has been denied entry into both heaven and hell”.

In many parts of the world, the Christian religious observances of All Hallows’ Eve, including attending church services and lighting candles on the graves of the dead, remain popular, although in other locations, these solemn customs are less pronounced in favor of a more commercialized and secularized celebration.

Stanstead’s Haunted Castle Dead Monty

This year again, a Haunted House has been organised by the Centre des Loisirs of Stanstead. If you are brave enough, come and visit this truly Haunted Castle on 290 Dufferin Street from 6h pm to 9h pm on Halloween Night.

Visit their facebook page for more info. Consider yourself warned!