Halloween is celebrated each year on 31 October. The word Halloween means " hallowed evening" or "holy evening". History suggests that Halloween has been observed since approximately 1745. It is an occasion which has Christian origins, having believed to be a time to remember the souls of the dead.
Festivities were traditionally held in western countries such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland and Puerto Rico. In recent years, Halloween has started to become popular in other countries such as Australia and New Zealand, as well as in Vietnam.
At Halloween, houses are often decorated with symbols related to the Northern Hemisphere Autumn, such as scarecrows, pumpkins and corn husks. The main theme is about death, devils and mythological monsters. The colours of black and orange, and sometimes purple are used. The most well-known symbol of Halloween is the pumpkin, which is hollowed out, and a face is carved into the front. A candle is placed inside the pumpkin at night time.
Trick-or-treating is a tradition that many children take part in at Halloween. Children wearing outlandish costumes walk around the streets in their neighbourhood, seeking out treats such as candy or other small gifts. They go from house to house asking the question, ‘trick-or-treat?’ which loosely translates to 'trick or fortune'. The children may play small tricks on the homeowners if they do not receive a small gift.
Traditional Halloween costumes were modelled after supernatural figures such as monsters, ghosts, skeletons and witches. Over time, the choice of costumes has expanded and now include popular characters from fiction, famous celebrities, as well as such characters like ninjas and princesses.
There are many games traditionally associated with Halloween parties. One common game is apple bobbing. In this game, apples float in a tub or large basin of water. The participants must use their teeth and mouth only to pick up one apple – no hands are allowed.
The traditional dishes or foods eaten at Halloween include candy apples, pumpkin soup, Barnbrack cake, and Colcannon – a traditional Irish meal which contains mashed potato and cabbage.
Halloween is also a time for watching horror films. Some discuss ghost stories for children, some are catered for older people. In Vietnam, there are many coffee shops which celebrate Halloween. They decorate their area in Halloween style. Many young people are excited to participate in these events. Some of them dress in costume. All of the participants enjoy playing special games together, and many photos are taken to remember the occasion.