Halloween

Halloween is a celebration observed by many countries on October 31. The name comes from All Hallows’ Eve, the night before All Saints’ Day. Its origins lie in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, marking the boundary between the harvest season and winter. During Samhain, communities lit bonfires and wore costumes to ward off spirits. In later centuries, Christian practices blended with popular beliefs, leading to Halloween as a day of remembrance of the dead.

Traditional activities include wearing costumes to disguise or honor spirits; trick-or-treating, where children go door-to-door for candy; carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns, a practice that originated in Ireland and Scotland with turnips before spreading to North America; autumnal decorations such as carved pumpkins, candles, and fake cemeteries; haunted houses and parties; sweet treats and seasonal foods.

In many countries, especially the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, Halloween is widely celebrated and largely secular, though it can include religious or cultural elements. The observance has also spread to other regions, with varying customs. Symbols commonly associated with Halloween include ghosts, witches, bats, and skeletons. Public safety and consumer aspects—costume shops, candy sales—are notable features of the modern celebration.