Halloween is one of the largest yearly celebrations in North America, known for its costumes, treats, and terrifying decorations. Did you know that it began over 2,000 years ago? Halloween was originally a traditional Celtic celebration called “Samhain.” The Celts, who lived in present-day Ireland, believed that on the night of October 31, the spirits of the dead could travel back to earth to harm the living. To chase away evil spirits, townspeople lit huge bonfires and wore scary costumes.
When Christianity spread through Europe, the church designated November 1 as All Saints’ Day to honor saints and good spirits. The night before was called All Hallows’ Eve, which eventually became Halloween. Halloween customs changed over time. Immigrants brought Halloween to America during the 1800s, where they began carving pumpkins instead of turnips and going door to door for trick-or-treating. Today, Halloween is celebrated around the world as a night of costumes, haunted houses, and horror movie screenings.
As fun and spooky as Halloween is, its origins show that it was originally a way to remember the dead and protect the living from ghostly spirits. Today, Halloween is one of the biggest traditional holidays celebrated in the United States.
In this day and age, Halloween is especially enjoyed by young people, although it is celebrated differently depending on age and location. Elementary and middle school kids usually dress up in costumes, go trick-or-treating in their neighborhoods, and indulge in candy. High schoolers and most teenagers tend to attend parties and haunted houses such as Horror Nights. Since Halloween is more popular among the youth, most adults simply decorate their houses and set out candy for neighborhood children.
Halloween is a special holiday that brings people together, creates lasting memories, and gives a warm, festive feeling. The day after Halloween, November 1, is All Saints’ Day, a Catholic holiday that helped inspire the tradition of Halloween. Originally known as All Hallows’ Eve, this night was celebrated as the vigil before All Saints’ Day. Although it began as a religious tradition, over time it evolved into the secular celebration we now know as Halloween.
