INTERNATIONAL VOICE International Student & Faculty Services
Issue 6
October 28th, 2010
N E E W O L L HA 2010 T
he phrase “Trick-or Treat” echoes through the chasms of many houses on the evening of Halloween. Children of all ages are out dressed as ghouls, characters and demons, looking for sweet treats at strangers’ houses. Upon hearing the phrase, loads of candy are dumped into a sack these “trickor-treaters” are carrying. Most children participate every year in this Halloween tradition, creating a new costume every year. The holiday of Halloween is observed on October 31st every year and is traditionally known as “All Saints Day.” Some of the traditions of Halloween spark out of pagan beliefs and rituals which include dark themes such as black magic, death, spirits and monsters. The rituals are based upon the ending of the plentiful season of harvest or the “light season” to the “dark season” of Winter. Costumes were traditionally worn to protect oneself
from harmful spirits. Another tradition on Halloween is the carving of a Jack-O-Lantern. A Jack-O-Lantern is a pumpkin that is hallowed out and a design is carved into the side so that when a candle is placed in the center of the pumpkin, the design-usually a face--is lit up. Many people on Halloween also host costume parties which include activities like telling ghost stories, bobbing for apples, visiting haunted houses and watching scary movies. Sounds kind of strange, right? However, Halloween in Athens occurs on a much larger scale. The usual car-filled, bar-filled Court Street transforms into a festival of ghouls, famous characters and demons when the street is closed off to automobiles for the night. Athens hosts a block party where all the people of the town, the University and visitors can parade around the street in their Halloween costumes. continued on pg. 2
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International Voice Publication Specialists Annie Cercone • Layout & Design Jess George • Copy