Why Do We Celebrate Halloween? The Amazing Truth Behind Your Halloween Traditions

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Pumpkins protect your home. To ward off demons, people in Ireland carved faces into turnips and potatoes, and set them in their windows. But when they came to the New World, they discovered pumpkins were more plentiful and easier to carve, so they switched.

Lighting a candle says "welcome". Setting out a glowing jack-o-lantern encourages protective visitors to drop by. How'd it start? Candles are a modern day version of the bonfires the early Celts built to invite wandering good spirits to stop by and warm themselves before winter set in.

Owls bring wisdom. The Druids believed Halloween night was ruled over by a goddess who disguised herself as an owl. The reason was because owls only come out at night, they were thought to be wise and have special knowledge of the spirit world.

Putting out candy brings blessings. Trick or treating on Halloween got its start in thre 9th century when poor European villagers went door to door on that night asking for currant studded soul cakes. Each donor who gave would then be blessed for the remainder of the year.

Wearing a costume scares off trouble. The idea of dressing up goes back to the Druids, who disguised themselves in elaborate costumes and Masks to dance around the Halloween fire and scare away spirits. Later, the Scottish and Irish adapted the tradition by dressing up as ghouls.

Bobbing for apples boosts your love life. The Druids believed apples represented fertility, and that the first person to successfully bob for one would be the first to marry. After catching an apple between your teeth, you were supposed to sleep with it under your pillow - to ensure dreams of your future mate.

Full moons bring a good harvest. In autumn, a full moon looks bigger and more orange, which is why it's the color of Halloween. The Celts called these "harvest moons" because they appeared only during the fall harvest.

A black cat improves your luck. Popular superstitions to the contrary, most cultures have revered black cats as lucky. And in Scandinavia, they carry the added aura of romance. It's said they pulled the chariot of Freya, the Norse goddess of passion.

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Barack Obama Masks - Celebrate Independence Day As the President

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Independence Day is one of the major holidays celebrated with much fun fare and gusto in the United States. As early as now, people are gathering costume ideas for the parade and parties that they are sure to have on their social calendar. What better way to celebrate the occasion than by being the president of the country whose independence was declared over 200 years ago?

You can come to a party as the charismatic Barack Obama. You can wear the usual suit that Obama wears and cap your costume with a mask. There are several Obama Masks to choose from that varies in materials. There are Obama Masks made of paper, vinyl, and latex.

To be more authentic, you can check out over-the-head Barack Obama Masks online. There are several of them being sold online that are made of latex with mouth, nose, eye and ear holes. These are very comfortable to wear, so you need worry about feeling of uneasiness while you are in your full regalia.

Paper Masks, on the other hand, are a lot cheaper but may get easily damaged half-way through the celebration. Barack Obama masks made of soft vinyl rubber are also advisable; since, they capture the President's facial feature and signature smile. These masks usually come in one size that would fit most adults.

Celebrate 4th of July as one of the most recognizable face in modern politics. Get the chance to feel how it is to be part of history even for just a night.

David L writes for ShopCompareCostumes.com and shares his interest in dressing up with internet readers. He's been writing for costume and Halloween blogs since August 2007 and has been a blog author since September 2005. He loves playing characters and his creative side is most active when he's sharing his ideas with others. He shares his ideas and recommendations about Obama Masks and other holidays at http://www.shopcomparecostumes.com. Visit our costume price comparison site for more Fourth of July Party ideas. Have a safe and fun Independence Day!