[HPforGrownups] Re: Happy Halloween everyone/mildly OT

[Amanda Lewanski]

No: HPFGUIDX 5025

Laurie wrote:

> I was in class on Halloween night, and we have students from China,
> Nigeria, and Poland in the class. When the professor asked them about
> Halloween in their home countries, they all stated that Halloween was
> not celebrated, although, in Poland, they do celebrate All Saints Day
> on November 1st.

They're Catholic feast days--November 1 is All Saints Day, November 2 is All
Souls Day. Another word for All Saints is All Hallows, hence Hallow's Eve,
etc. Since it's Catholic, and quite probably derived from an earlier
tradition, most European countries are going to have some traces--but not
necessarily having to do with Oct. 31. Poland focuses on Nov. 1.

--Amanda