🎃👻 Halloween: A Time for Traditions, Fellowship & Community Fun!
Halloween is celebrated every year on October 31. It is one of the world's oldest seasonal celebrations, with traditions that blend ancient Celtic customs, Christian observances, European folklore, and modern American festivities.
Today, Halloween is associated with costumes, trick-or-treating, pumpkins, haunted houses, parties, and community gatherings.
And Rotarians in Addison and throughout Rotary District 5810 certainly know how to celebrate!
Here are a few of the spooky celebrations and activities from October 2026:
🎃 Addison Rotary Club – Members gathered for their popular Halloween Costume Party, bringing out creative costumes, festive snacks, and plenty of fellowship.
🦇 Rotary Community Spirit – Members enjoyed the opportunity to connect with neighbors, support community activities, and share the fun of the Halloween season.
Whether dressed as witches, ghosts, superheroes, or something a little more frightening, Rotarians demonstrated that fellowship and fun are an important part of being involved in Rotary!
Service Above Self – with a little Halloween spirit! 🎃🧡
Where did Halloween begin?
Halloween traces its roots back more than 2,000 years to an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain (pronounced SOW-in).
The Celts lived in areas that include present-day Ireland, Scotland, and parts of Britain.
Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.
It was celebrated around October 31 and November 1.
People believed that the boundary between the living and the dead became less distinct during this time.
Bonfires were lit, and people wore disguises to protect themselves from harmful spirits.
Samhain is considered one of the major historical influences on Halloween.
"While Halloween has changed dramatically over thousands of years, one thing remains important: bringing people together. Today, we use this celebration to build friendships, strengthen our neighborhoods, and serve our communities."