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I was born in Montreal and eventually moved to MacDonald Street in Chomedey, Laval, when I was around six or seven years old.

In Christianity, Halloween takes place at the beginning of Allhallowtide, a time of the year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and others who left the world of the living. But I learned from an Irish family living just a couple of houses down the road that the way Halloween is celebrated comes in part from ancient Celtic traditions, which matches up with what many researchers say about the holiday.

According to these scholars, Halloween traces its origins back more than 2,000 years to ancient Celtic traditions, including Samhain in Ireland and Scotland. The festival marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter and was celebrated around October 31st or November 1st (this is where some of the Christian traditions kick in).

The stories say that during Samhain the boundary between the living and the dead opens, allowing spirits to roam the earth. People would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off these spirits and protect themselves from fairies, witches, and goblins. These practices laid the groundwork for modern Halloween traditions. When I heard these stories as a child, it was very scary for me, and I suppose that was in keeping with the holiday “spirit.”

The customs of Irish and Scottish immigrants to North America in the 19th century evolved into a widely celebrated holiday with its own Canadian traditions. They introduced various traditions, including bobbing for apples, wearing disguises, and preparing jack-o'-lanterns, which were originally carved from turnips or potatoes but eventually adapted to North American pumpkins, which, I agree, are much easier to carve into scary faces!

Another family on our street, the Carrolls, taught me and my late younger sister Sharon more about the holiday. The saying “trick-or-treat” in Canada started sometime in the early 1900s. It was not a new concept, but it was newly introduced as a Halloween tradition. It supposedly comes from the Middle Ages, with the practice of begging for offerings, known as “souling,” where people offered to sing a prayer for the dead in exchange for a “soul cake.” I'll stick with the miniature chocolates, thank you.

Halloween became more popular across the country, eventually evolving into a much bigger celebration. Trick-or-treating, pumpkin carving, and parties with costumed guests ranging from adorable to terrifying (and adult-themed in between) became the new normal.

The weeks leading up to Halloween are also when the scariest movies turn up on the big screens in theatres, letting us know that the spooky season is upon us. And what’s Halloween without a screening of the 1975 classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show? Don't forget to bring your newspaper, flashlight, rubber gloves, and toilet paper… if you know, you know.

Now, Halloween is celebrated across the country with many activities, including haunted houses, parades, and community events. It has also become a lucrative commercial holiday — I think Costco has candy and costumes out by August! Keep your eyes peeled for chocolate and candy sales (including coupons and points) in the weeks leading up to the holiday, because if you're hoping to build up your personal stash on November 1st, you could be disappointed.

Bottom line: I love living and and enjoying the spooky season in Pointe-Claire!

Much love (and silliness)!

Bonnie’s Babble will be back in December. Bonnie is a local writer, stand-up mirror comic, hamster tamer, and twist-tie collector. Feel free to contact her at bonnierwords@gmail.com with any ideas you may have.