Fall is upon us, which means it is time for haunted houses, pumpkin carving, and trick-or-treating. However, many tend to forget where these traditions started. 

In the beginning, pumpkin carving was not actually pumpkin carving. The tradition originated in Ireland, but since pumpkins did not grow in Ireland, people carved turnips instead. The original jack-o-lantern originated in America. 

“What is fat, lumpy, and has orange skin? Me? No, a pumpkin!” Amie O’Brien, junior, said. 

Halloween became a tradition from the Celtic festival Samhain, which started two thousand years ago. Halloween is now considered a holiday because the ways of celebration have changed.  

“I don’t believe Halloween should be a dark time; I look at it as a fun holiday,” Blake Fields, senior, said. 

Today, Halloween is celebrated by children and adults of all ages by dressing up and knocking on doors for candy. This is a tradition with many families, yet not all countries are aware of this celebration. 

“In Australia, we never celebrated Halloween, so moving to America was a big change,” Hollie Wright, sophomore, said.  

These traditions have potential to spread to different countries. Etowah recognizes Halloween by doing costume for a cause, a day where you wear your Halloween costume for a dollar; all money goes toward the school.