[Ragnarok]

Hey Rockman, here's the answer regarding your question as to where Halloween started.

HALLOWEEN got its name from the old English term All Hallows E'en, the eve of all the holy ones' day, or All Saints' Day, which falls on November 1 in the Church Calendar.

Where Halloween Got Started

Under the heading "Halloween," the "Encyclopaedia Britannica" says: "Oct. 31 was also the eve of the new year in both Celtic and Anglo-Saxon times and one of the ancient fire festivals. . . . Since November ushers in the darkest and most barren half of the year, the autumnal festival acquired sinister significance, with ghosts, witches, hobgoblins, fairies and demons of all kinds roaming abroad."

The festival was held in honor of Samhain, the Celtic lord of the dead, who it was believed, allowed the souls of those who died in the preceding year to return home that evening. Festivities included building huge bonfires to chase away the witches and demons. Sacrifices of crops, animals and even humans were made to appease the souls of the deceased. The people also engaged in fortune-telling and wore costumes made of animal heads and skins.

The Romans also contributed some of their pagan rituals to the customs of the Celts whom they conquered. One of their autumn festivals held in honor of Pomona, the goddess of trees and fruits, probably accounted for the prominent use of apples in Halloween festivities-apple-bobbing and apple-on-a-string, for example.

That should be it. Hope that helps.