What Makes Halloween So Special?

Halloween is celebrated on the 31st of October by trick-or-treating, costume parties, carving pumpkins, lighting bonfires, visiting haunted attractions, etc… The origin of Halloween dates back thousands of years ago to the Celtic New Year’s Festival, Samhain. It was a religious celebration marking the end of summer and beginning of a new year.

However, it wasn't always cozy fires and warm cider like it is today. It was believed that on this night, the boundary between the dead and alive became blurred, inviting the ghosts of the dead to return to earth. During that time, crops were burned,  animals were sacrificed, people wore costumes and attempted to tell each others’ fortunes.

Here at our school teachers dress up, staff decorates our school, and students come up with creative costumes. All of these are part of Atlanta International School tradition. In the past few years, teachers and staff have dressed up as minions and Barbie, and this year they’ve chosen zoo animals!! What have you dressed up as? A very popular costume this year was Mario and Luigi, animal print, and Alvin and the Chipmunks! 

“It’s a really fun night where I can have fun with friends” - Anonymous High School Student

In general, this is a very popular holiday and even some peoples’ favorite, so we’ve picked some good movies for you to watch (from heartwarming to scary): Casper, Hocus Pocus, Corpse Bride, Coraline, Scream, The Shining, Halloween, Terrifier and finally Smile.

Like you might have seen during your auditorium meetings, some students have talked about human trafficking and staying safe during halloween. They mentioned that you should stay in groups, be alert (keep hands out of pockets, don't wear masks that could block vision), buy fair trade candy, and don’t run over kids.

What about you, what do you celebrate on Halloween?