Halloween - All Saints' Day Eve (Samine)

The symbol of Halloween - pumpkin - a favorite character of both children and adults.The night before All Saints Day from October 31 to November 1 is the most mysterious night of the year – Halloween. The holiday, which originated in Ireland, then became traditional in America, returned to Europe after the Second World War, including Germany.

Halloween is not a public holiday in Germany, but every year the number of people who celebrate, dress up as witches and ghosts is growing. With the growing popularity of the holiday, criticism of it is becoming louder, as Halloween competes with such church and national holidays as Reformation Day (celebrated on the same day) and St. Martin's Day (celebrated on November 10 and 11).

Pumpkin, as a decoration, can be found everywhere, and even on the roof.

Preparations for Halloween begin in September. In stores you can buy pumpkins of all possible varieties, sizes and colors and not only real, but also clay, plastic, in the form of candles, garlands, etc. A huge number of witches and ghosts can be seen both on counters and on balconies, windows, in the garden, in flower pots and in wreaths hung on the entrance doors. Many children, together with their parents, make all these decorations with their own hands, including a traditional hollow pumpkin with cut out eyes, nose and mouth and a candle inserted inside. And since the economical Germans do not lose anything in vain, a variety of dishes are prepared from the pulp of the pumpkin - from soups to sweets.

By now, Halloween in Germany has acquired the status of a costume holiday. Across the country, children dress up as witches, vampires or other creepy heroes. In Germany, children do not go to their neighbors and ask for sweets, as is done in many countries. For them, there are holidays with changing clothes in schools and kindergartens. But it's all in the afternoon.