There are those who believe that Halloween is merely a holiday, invented by the candy companies to bring forth unimaginable profits, and some who presume All Hallows Eve is nothing but dressing up and assuming boatloads of sugars and sweets. There are those who feel that celebrating Halloween goes against their religious beliefs and some who exploit the holiday; playing out the deviant acts they wouldn’t dare attempt any other day of the year.

Halloween may be all or none of these things to you, but what I can assure you of: Halloween has many interesting origins that date back thousands of years. Halloween's beginnings date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain about 2,000 years ago– a festival that celebrated the new year which started on November 1st. The Celts also believed the last day of their year was the only day the dearly departed could slip through the boundaries of life and death and return to earth. To commemorate this day, peasants wore animal skins and heads and Celtic priests built huge bonfires for sacrifices of animals and crops to the Celtic divinities.

Around 43 A.D. the Romans conquered the Celts and incorporated two of their festivals (Feralia, the festival honoring those who had passed and the second was in observance of Pomona, the goddess of fruit and trees) into Samhain. By 800 A.D., Christianity dominated many of the Celt lands, and Pope Boniface IV tried to replace the pagan holidays with All Saints’ Day on November 1st; a holiday celebrating deceased martyrs and the saints. The festivity was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints’ Day). Finally, the Catholic Church later declared November 2nd All Souls’ Day, remembering the dead. The gala was celebrated in the same way as Samhain with bonfires, parades and saint costumes. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints’, All Saints’, and All Souls’, were entitled Hallowmas.

We still celebrate with bonfires, costumes and festivities, but sacrificing small beings and appeasing gods is no longer part of the Halloween regimen. There are some fun happenings in Evansville on Halloween that are designed to be safe for family fun.

A-MAZE-ing
Some family fun that never gets old is Halloween corn mazes. Two mazes this year are The Lark Ranch 4 miles north of Loogootee on Highway 231 and The Maze at Mayse, Mayse Farm Market, 6409 N. St. Joseph Ave. Admission to the Lark Ranch is $6/person (5 and under FREE) and Mayse Farm is $6/adult, $5/child and $5/person of a family of four or more. Also, there is plenty to do besides being chased by the children of the corn. Wagon rides and a straw castle are featured at Mayse Farm where a hay ride, pumpkin patch, barnyard animals, and pony rides are right at your kids’ fingertips at the Lark Ranch. Visit www.larkranch.com or call 812-295-9555. Call 812-963-3175 for the Mayse Farm.

Simulated DEATH
Just about the scariest thing I can think of would be to be buried alive. Now, you can take a virtual coffin ride only at the Nick Nackery. Located on the corner Virginia and Heidelbach, the Nick Nackery is your source for costumes, props, decorations, and now, a chance to see what it’s like to be dead. Visit the NN funeral parlor and enter “the last ride you’ll ever take.” You get in the coffin, you have your funeral and feel your pallbearers carry you to your cold grave and bury you. Admission is $5 per person and according to Susie, NN owner, “you can only ride alone.” Along with this mighty frightening ride, NN also has tons of new costumes like Peeps (yes the Easter candy) and lots of scary stuff, fun stuff and everything in between. Visit them on the web at www.nicknackery.com or call 423-NICK.

Spookhouses
You know you look forward to getting the poop scared out of you every year at the House of Lector and the Old Courthouse Catacombs. These very haunted places will creep even the coolest cats out. This year, Michael Meyers will be hanging out and mutants will be chillin’ in the labyrinth. The best part is you can buy a combo ticket and visit both of the spook houses as many times as you want the night of purchase. See ad on page __ for a $2 off coupon. (Reg ticket price $20). www.oldcatacombs.com.

Haunted Tours
Lady-in-Grey Ghost Tours, Willard Library, 21 First Ave. A great group outing that is FREE is the haunted tour of Willard Library on Oct 25-28th from 7-9 p.m. Reservations required. Call 425-4309.

Historic Newburgh Ghost Walks, Join the Historic Newburgh Society for two haunted tours of Downtown Historic Newburgh. Saturday-Sunday, Oct 20-21 & 27-28 6:00 - 8:30pm (Tours Start Every 15 Minutes). The cost is $6.00 for adults and $4.00 for children (ages 4-12). State Street: Newburgh History and Civil War Tales, thrills and bedlam! Water Street: Mining and river lore, mayhem and mystery and the Underground Railroad! Visit www.historicnewburgh.org for more info.

Hoot & Howl Woods Walk, Audubon State Park in Henderson, KY. Come dressed to win prizes and learn all about the wonderful things in the woods on October 26th and 27th from 5:30-9 p.m. Admission is $2/person.

Kids
On the Saturday before Halloween visit Willard Library for COSTUME MANIA!! Join makeup and costume professionals at 1:30 p.m. to learn all about the behind the scenes of makeup, costuming, acting and more! Come dressed in your favorite costume for a howling good time! (Free)

Visit Audubon State Park in Henderson for the Halloween Bash. Kids ages 3-6 can participate in this art project from 10:30-noon. Cost for this project is $5 and costumes are welcome! Call 270-827-1893 for registration.

See the Kid’s Page for more fun stuff!!!