Happy Halloween - what's it all about?

Halloween, celebrated each year on October 31, is a festive night filled with costumes, candy, and community fun. Best known for trick-or-treating, creative costumes, and spooky traditions, it brings people of all ages together. But have you ever wondered where Halloween comes from and what it really represents?

The Story Behind Halloween

Halloween traces its roots back more than 2,000 years to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest and the start of winter. The Celts believed that on the night of October 31, the boundary between the living and the dead grew thin, allowing spirits to wander the earth. To protect themselves, people lit bonfires and wore costumes to ward off these wandering souls.

As Christianity spread, Samhain traditions merged with All Saints’ Day, observed on November 1 to honor saints and martyrs. The evening before became known as All Hallows’ Eve, which, over time, shortened into the name we use today—Halloween.

In America, Halloween began to take on a new character as customs from European immigrants blended with local traditions, including those of Indigenous peoples. Early celebrations often centered on harvest festivals and community gatherings known as “play parties,” where people shared stories of the dead, told fortunes, sang, and danced.

The modern version of Halloween gained momentum in the mid-19th century, when a wave of Irish immigrants fleeing the Potato Famine brought their customs to the United States. Dressing in costumes and going door-to-door asking for food or money became a popular activity—eventually evolving into today’s trick-or-treating.

Over time, this once-sacred observance transformed into a joyful celebration that combines ancient rituals, folklore, and community traditions. Today, Halloween is recognized as a night of imagination and fun—complete with costumes, candy, and a touch of spooky magic.