The origins of Halloween have been traced to Middle Ages Europe
and included sacrifices to gods and more harmless practices
involving costumes and going door-to-door for hand-outs. The
name "Halloween" is an early Middle Ages term that represented
the day before All Hallows Day, or All Saints Day. This Catholic
holiday on Nov. 1 commemorating Christian saints and martyrs has
been observed since the early Middle Ages, according to
About.com. Customs attributed to Halloween include Jack-O-
Lanterns, which date back centuries. Souling, which involved
going door-to-door and offering prayers for the dead in exchange
for "soul cakes" and other treats, was a part of the holiday in
the Middle Ages. A custom called Mumming, or "guising," was
initially associated with Christmas and involved parading in
costume and chanting rhymes. Today's emphasis on children is
different from the origins of Halloween. More than 2,000 years
ago the holiday was a New Year's Eve celebration on Oct. 31 by
Celtic people living in what later