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Ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. People would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts.
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Masks were worn by ancient Celts to ward off evil spirits
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The story of the first werewolf emerged when Zeus transformed Lycaon into one of the hairy creatures for opposing the Olympians.
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In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints. Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain.
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Candle lanterns made of carved turnips used in Scotland and Ireland to ward off harmful spirits.
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The word "Halloween" became part of the English language
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Cultures such as the Mesopotamians, Hebrews, Ancient Greeks, Manipuri and Romans already had tales of demons and spirits which are considered precursors to modern vampires; but it was during the 18th century when the "vampire craze" begun. Literature from this time:
-The Vampire (1748) by Heinrich August Ossenfelder
-Lenore (1773) by Gottfried August Bürger
-The Bride of Corinth (1797) by Goethe
-Thalaba the Destroyer by Robert Southey (1st mention of vampires in English literature). -
Children started wearing costumes and going door to door asking for food in Scotland and Ireland
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Pumpkins first became associated with Halloween.
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In 1934 the New York Times used the term "trick or treat"