CLAY COUNTY – Oct. 31 is around the corner.\u00a0\u00a0And you know what that means. Pumpkin carving,\u00a0scary movies,\u00a0creepy costumes, empty candy\u00a0aisles\u00a0and ghastly guests.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It also means trick-or-treating is near. A family-friendly tradition, did you know the pastime\u00a0has\u00a0roots traced back to Celtic festivals, early Roman Catholic\u00a0holidays\u00a0and medieval practices?\u00a0<\/p>\n
According to\u00a0History.com<\/a>, Halloween was originally called Samhain and marked the end of harvest season for Celtic farmers. They celebrated\u00a0with\u00a0a festival on Oct. 31 and disguised themselves in animal skin costumes to drive away spirits.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0The Celts began dressing as ghosts in exchange for food and drinks\u00a0in later centuries, which\u00a0was\u00a0thought to be like trick-or-treating. The common phrase we know today, however, was\u00a0established\u00a0in popular culture in 1952.\u00a0<\/p>\n So, next time you knock on your neighbor\u2019s door asking for candy, you know why!\u00a0<\/p>\n Although the tradition is exciting for young children,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0important to remember some safety precautions while having\u00a0a\u00a0good time.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n To make sure you and your loved ones stay safe this\u00a0spooky season, here are some safety tips to keep in mind as told by the\u00a0National Safety Council<\/a>:\u00a0<\/p>\n Use glow sticks, reflective\u00a0tape\u00a0or flashlights\u00a0for children who will be out after dark. According to\u00a0Safekids.org<\/a>, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than on any other day of the year.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n