Season’s Greetings is an short animated film that was made by Michael Dougherty in 1996. It’s about a small boy named Sam who goes out on Halloween night, dressed in orange pajamas and a burlap sack with button eyes and a stitched-on smile. He is being stalked by a malevolent stranger who follows him through the deserted streets. Michael Dougherty later turned this short film into a full-length Halloween-themed horror anthology movie, called Trick ‘r Treat.
I love the movie Trick ‘r Treat. It is based on the legend of Samhain.
Samhain is a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter (or the darker half of the year.)
Samhain was seen as a time when the “door” to the Otherworld opened enough for the souls of the dead, and other beings, to come into our world.
Feasts were held, at which the souls of dead kin were beckoned to attend and a place set at the table for them. It has thus been likened to a festival of the dead. People also took steps to protect themselves from harmful spirits, which is thought to have led to the custom of guising. Divination was also done at Samhain.
The other similar story is that Samhain is an evil demon or devil-like creature who is able to escape from hell at the end of every harvest year (Halloween) and the only way to appease this evil being was to leave candy and sweets outside your front door or when the door knocks and you answer it, give him the sweets or something of value (money). Of course, no one ever knows if Samhain is at their door, as everyone who trick or treats on Halloween is dressed-up in a costume. So always answer your door and appease the trick or treaters with sweets and candy and the like or else Samhain will get you if he is among them… this is where we get the well-known saying “Trick or treat” because if you do not give a treat then Samhain will get you (hence the “trick”).
Another story is that if you do not want to be seen or captured by Samhain, then disguise your face with a mask and he will be unable to see you. This hides you from him.