Halloween has a complex history with both pagan and Christian roots. The ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain, which occurred on November 1 but kicked off the evening before, is considered the earliest known root of our secular Halloween traditions. It marked a pivotal time of year when seasons changed, but more importantly, observers also believed the boundary between this world and the next became especially thin, enabling them to connect with the dead. The name "Halloween" came from the Christian All Souls Day celebration, also known as "All-hallows". In those days, the Christian holiday we know as All Saints Day was called All Hallows Day, and the day before, when an evening mass was held, was All Hallows Eve. That name eventually got shortened to Halloween.
Some of the classic Halloween traditions we know today have their origins in ancient Celtic traditions. For example, carving pumpkins has its roots in the Irish legend of Stingy Jack, who tricked the devil and was doomed to wander the earth with only a carved-out turnip to light his way. Trick-or-treating may have originated from the Celtic practice of leaving food out to appease the spirits traveling the Earth at night. Playing pranks also has a long history, with the pre-Halloween tradition known as “Devil’s Night” credited to different origins depending on the source.
Over time, Halloween evolved and became more secular, with fall festivals incorporating Halloween elements and Irish immigrants bringing many Halloween traditions to the United States. The custom of trick-or-treating, in which children dress up in costume and solicit treats from neighbors, became popular in the United States in the early 20th century as Irish and Scottish communities revived the Old World custom of “guising” . Today, Halloween is considered a holiday for dress-up and fun, especially for children, and is one of the biggest holidays for candy sales in the United States.
