Long ago, man once wore the skins of his enemies to gain their strengths and skills--or so the story goes. It is more likely that inept adventurers, finding themselves low in provisions or desirous of some precious item, donned the guise of some horrifying creature in an attempt to terrorize the goods from a better--but dumber--opponent. This technique was surprisingly profitable... when it worked, which wasn’t too often, much to the dismay of the trickster and delight of the target. Those who could successfully fool hapless wayfarers came to be known as actors. But in general, the practice of dressing up fell to children, the final mockery of the sheer silliness of the idea. It wasn’t long, however, before adults wanted back in on the fun. So today, the citizenry of Berella celebrate the memory of dressing as you are not in a festival called Halloween. Scholars speculate the term Halloween is derived from ‘hollow weenie,’ a taunt yelled at the imposter to describe the empty threat posed by his costume--or an insult to the masculinity (or lack thereof) of the perpetrator. Now, Halloween simply means revelry and merriment. Children of all ages dress in frightening garb to scare sweets from each other in lighthearted jest. Usually, everyone complies with the demand for candy and treats, fearing a trick might be played upon them otherwise, such as being pelted with rotten eggs, or suffering the dreaded ‘TP.’ Thus we have come full circle, for the disguised one gets what he wants, which, ironically enough, was the intent of the ruse in the first place all those years ago.