Halloween’s origins can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, a time often associated with death in Celtic tradition.
During Samhain, Celts believed that the boundary between the living and the dead blurred, allowing spirits to roam the earth. To ward off these roaming spirits and honour the deceased, people would light bonfires and wear costumes to disguise themselves.
When Christianity spread into Celtic lands, Samhain merged with the Christian holiday All Saints’ Day, also known as All Hallows’ Day, which falls on November 1st. The night before All Hallows’ Day became known as All Hallows’ Eve, eventually evolving into Halloween.
Over time, Halloween transformed into a secular, community-centred holiday, with traditions like trick-or-treating, costume parties, and haunted houses emerging in various cultures around the world.