Halloween parade: These costumed guys are sure to freak you

Halloween, explained simply, is a popular US family festival, where children dress up in ‘frightening’ costumes and visit homes demanding ‘trick or treat’ which is generally candies and chocolates. A participant in costume poses for the camera after a Halloween parade in Kawasaki, south of Tokyo, Japan October 30, 2016. (REUTERS)

Updated on: Oct 31, 2016 6:41 PM IST

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Halloween, explained simply, is a popular US family festival, where children dress up in ‘frightening’ costumes and visit homes demanding ‘trick or treat’ which is generally candies and chocolates. A participant in costume poses for the camera after a Halloween parade in Kawasaki, south of Tokyo, Japan October 30, 2016. (REUTERS)

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There are also parades where people dress up is scary costumes and roam the streets. In terms of business, this festival comes second only to Christmas in the US. A member of street performance troupe Macnas participates in their 30th anniversary during Halloween parade called Savage Grace in Galway, Ireland, October 30, 2016. (REUTERS)

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But the origin of Halloween is in the ancient Celtic tradition called Samhain, marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter and is nearly 2000 years old. A member of Macnas participates during Halloween parade in Galway, Ireland. (REUTERS)

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It was celebrated on November 1. On the night before, October 31, people believed that ghosts returned to earth. A participant in costume poses to a camera after a Halloween parade in Kawasaki. (REUTERS)

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To keep them at bay, people left food and wine at their door steps. A member of Macnas participates during Halloween parade in Galway, Ireland. (REUTERS)

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And if they stepped out, they would wear masks so that they would be mistaken as fellow ghosts. Participants at the Kawasaki Halloween parade. (AFP)

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The Christian church turned Samhain into in All Saints Day or All Hallows Day around the 8th century. A member of Macnas at the Halloween parade on October 30, 2016. (REUTERS)

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Hence, the night before became All Hallows Eve. It was later shortened to Halloween. A participant poses during the Halloween parade in Kawasaki. (REUTERS)

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In the 19th century America, Irish and Scottish immigrants revived these old traditions. A scene from the Halloween parade in Kawasaki. (REUTERS)

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It was only in the 1950s, however, that the festival took on its current family-friendly-kids-centric form. A Kawasaki Halloween parade participant... (AFP)

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And here comes Grim Reaper, Zombie and Joker mashup from the Zombie Walk parade during Halloween celebrations in Kiev, Ukraine on October 30, 2016. (REUTERS)

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The festival has now acquired a global character with Halloween parades being held in countries like Japan and in other parts of Europe as an expression of American pop culture. As scary as it gets! A participant during the Halloween parade in Kawasaki. (REUTERS)

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More scenes from the Halloween parade in Kawasaki. (REUTERS)

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A Kawasaki participant in costume is busy with her phone. (REUTERS)

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A man in a ghost costume marches in the annual Nyack Halloween Parade in the village of Nyack, New York, US, October 29, 2016. (REUTERS)