Halloween

Halloween, celebrated on October 31st, has roots in ancient traditions that have evolved into the modern-day spooky celebration. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, a time believed to be connected with death. The Celts believed that on the night of October 31st, the boundary between the living and the dead was blurred, allowing spirits to return to the Earth. To protect themselves from these spirits, the Celts lit bonfires and wore costumes made of animal skins.

As Christianity spread across Europe, the holiday gradually merged with Christian traditions. By the 8th century, Pope Gregory IV established All Saints’ Day on November 1st, and the evening before became All Hallows’ Eve, which eventually evolved into Halloween. During this time, people would light candles and carry lanterns to guide the souls of the dead, a tradition that morphed into the modern practice of carving Jack-o’-lanterns.

The tradition of trick-or-treating came to America through Irish immigrants in the 19th century, and Halloween became a more secular, family-friendly celebration of costumes, parties, and sweets.