Column: Not officially a holiday, but an event

Editor's note: Richards is a teacher, traveler and Norwalk resident. Well, it is that time of year again and it is called autumn or fall. It's that time of year when the leaves on the trees change into beautiful colors of orange, yellow and red. It is when the nights come a lot earlier than they do in the summertime and when we change our clocks back one hour that first week of November. It's when the temperatures begin to turn cooler and the air feels crisper than normal. It is also when we get ready to celebrate the fun fall event that we call Halloween. While I enjoy Halloween and always did so while growing up in Norwalk as a kid, I have to constantly remind the many people of all ages that always tell me that Halloween is their favorite holiday that it is in fact, not a holiday, but just a fun event. As an educator at three public schools in our area, I have to constantly remind my students and so many other people that Halloween is not a holiday at all and it certainly is not an official holiday, but just a fun event much like Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day are. Holidays are very special and meaningful days that have a religious, spiritual, historic or commemorative aspect to them like Christmas, New Years, Easter, President's Day, Veteran's Day, Memorial Day, the 4th of July, Labor Day and so forth. Banks, government institutions, schools, and many businesses are closed and no mail is delivered on those days. There is nothing tricky or treaty about official holidays. On Halloween or the day after, most adults are expected to show up for work if they are scheduled to do so and students better plan on showing up for school regardless of what they were doing on Halloween night. While there are many reasons to like and to have fun on Halloween, the history of Halloween is much more complicated and goes much deeper than just carving pumpkins and going door to door collecting candy from neighboring houses or businesses. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. Only over time did Halloween evolve into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, wearing costumes and eating treats like we know today. Halloween is also celebrated around the world with traditions like those in the USA, but many countries have their own unique customs and variations. So, of course, enjoy Halloween and all of fall colors, costumes, treats and fun that come along with it. Just remember my friends, it is just a fun event, nothing more and nothing less. Now that's a spooky thought, right?