Why Halloween is So Important.
A bit premature since Halloween is still weeks away.
But, Halloween is uniquely important as far as US holidays are concerned.
America's children dress up in scary costumes and visit their neighbors.
Throughout a typical year, this may be their only contact with many of their neighbors.
They show up super scary and are greeted with hospitality.
Halloween is a vital ingredient in teaching tolerance and acceptance.
Neighbors meeting face to face.
Too bad it's only once a year.
= new reply since forum marked as read
But it usually means, that Thanksgiving, Xmas and New Years is right around the corner. This year goes by so fast.. and we are about to plunge into the Fall Season. (For the Bay Area, and SF the best weather of the year, few foggy days and more sunshine.)
I will end up buying my bag of candy corns, which I get addicted to this time of year.. for me that's the best thing about Halloween!
Buy the good stuff that YOU like. When it's over, you'll be glad you did.
The Mummer tradition dates back to the Middle Ages, although the exact origin cannot be pinpointed. Mummers dressed up in disguises and visited other people either as part of Christmas festivities or in celebration of the New Year. It may have started as part of the Roman festival of Saturnalia or Greek celebrations of Momus.
The tradition was widespread and diverse throughout history. In England and Ireland, it included plays, as Mummers also performed in the royal courts of England. The Mummer’s plays reached their peak between the end of the 19th Century and the first World War in England and Ireland.
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>>The tradition was brought to the United States, where the largest celebration is in Philadelphia. Groups would go from door to door during the time of George Washington, performing in exchange for food. Now, about 15,000 dress up in Philadelphia for The Mummers Parade down Broad Street every January 1st.
http://www.funtober.com/halloween/mummers/
Read more about the Mummers in Ireland on Halloween here:
http://www.ireland-information.com/articles/irishhalloweentraditions.htm
IRISH HALLOWEEN TRADITIONS
The Celts celebrated Halloween as Samhain, 'All Hallowtide' - the 'Feast of the Dead', when the dead revisited the mortal world. The celebration marked the end of Summer and the start of the Winter months.
During the eighth century the Catholic Church designated the first day of November as 'All Saints Day' ('All Hallows') - a day of commemoration for those Saints that did not have a specific day of remembrance. The night before was known as 'All Hallows Eve' which, over time, became known as Halloween.
Lots of great other info. can be found at the link below:
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I know an old person from Ireland that tells of the Mummers coming around on "All Hallowtide" aka All Saints Day, to collect their dues on that sacred night in Ireland .
Said informant has relations that lived into their hundreds and has a vivid account of the Mummers coming around to their door right around the time frame mentioned -- post WWI. The family also celebrated the solstice by lighting a huge fire atop a hill and dancing around it into the depths of the night. Ah, the old Ireland I am writing of, one that barely exists today.
In any event, Halloween is not an "American" tradition as at dates to the eighth century as noted above. I'd strongly suggest that it is IRISH in origin ... 
