James is Master Chief from the video game Halos

The name Halloween comes from an older name for October 31st – All Hallow’s Eve. All Hallow’s Eve was celebrated on the vigil (night before) All Saints Day (November 1st) and All Souls Day (November 2nd). Because these two days celebrate those who have died and are in Heaven and purgatory, people would remember the dead with special traditions.

• Trick-or treating: Visiting neighborhood homes asking for candy started as a way to pray for the dead. Beggars would go door to door and promise to pray for the deceased members of a family in exchange for some food or a treat.

David took James trick-or-treating on Lebanon Avenue around the corner from our house

People came out in droves to trick-or-treat despite the intermittent rain

• Costumes: Traditionally, people would dress up in costumes on All Hallow’s Eve, usually like ghosts or demons to make fun of evil because they knew that Christ had won the battle over sin and death.

An alien kidnapping a boy…on scooter!

A dinosaur chasing the alien!

• Decorations: It became a tradition to decorate with skulls and other symbols of death to remind us that we will die and must rely on Christ for our salvation.

Many houses on Lebanon Avenue were decorated lavishly for Halloween. Our next-door neighbors turned their house into the house from the movie Up.

Happy All Saint’s Day!