Halloween's roots date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, celebrated on October 31, marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. For the Celts, who lived around 2,000 years ago in areas now known as Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, this night represented a time when the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead was blurred. They believed that on this night, the spirits of the dead returned to Earth, potentially causing harm to the living, damaging crops, and making predictions about the future. Bonfires were lit, and costumes, typically of animal heads and skins, were worn to ward off these roaming spirits.
By the 8th century, the Christian church had established All Saints' Day on November 1, a time to honor saints and martyrs, likely as a way to integrate and replace Samhain with a church-sanctioned celebration. The day before, October 31, became known as All Hallows' Eve, eventually shortened to Halloween.
During the Middle Ages, Halloween traditions spread and evolved throughout Europe, blending with other beliefs and customs. In England, people practiced a custom known as souling—a tradition in which the poor would go from door to door, offering prayers for the deceased in exchange for food. This practice is considered one of the early influences on modern-day trick-or-treating.
Halloween arrived in North America through early European settlers, particularly the Irish and Scottish who brought their customs with them. The holiday transformed over the centuries in America, especially after the Irish Potato Famine in the 19th century led to a large influx of Irish immigrants, who further popularized Halloween traditions, including jack-o'-lanterns. Originally made from turnips or beets, they were carved with faces to frighten off wandering spirits, but pumpkins eventually became the preferred choice in the United States due to their abundance and size.
By the early 20th century, Halloween had become a community-centered holiday in North America. Trick-or-treating emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, becoming a widely accepted practice by the post-World War II era, as candy companies promoted the tradition. Today, Halloween combines elements of Samhain, Christian customs, and American innovations, making it a unique holiday celebrated with costumes, decorations, parties, and treats in many parts of the world.
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