Halloween has a long history and originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in) around 2,000 years ago. During Samhain, people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. This was the day that marked the end of summer and harvest season and the beginning of winter, a time associated with human death. It was believed that the night before the new year (which was celebrated on November 1) was when the boundary between the living and the dead became blurred. Celts believed that the presence of these spirits caused trouble and damage to crops and that the Celtic priests (known as Druids) were able to use their presence to predict the future. The Druids built huge bonfires where people gathered and burned crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities while wearing costumes made of animal heads and skins.

Over time, the Roman Empire conquered the majority of the Celtic territory, and two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the celebration of Samhain. The first was Feralia, celebrated in late October, where the Romans would commemorate the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the goddess of fruit and trees. Her symbol was the apple, and this is believed to be where the tradition of bobbing for apples came to play.

In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as a time to honor all saints, becoming what we know as All Saints Day, which included some of the same traditions as Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve and is now known as Halloween. November 2nd was named All Souls Day to honor the dead. It was celebrated in a similar fashion to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and costumes such as saints, angels, and devils.

Centuries later, Halloween came to the New World. It took a while for Halloween to be celebrated in colonial New England, due to the rigid Protestant belief system. It was more common in Maryland and the southern colonies. With the meshing of different European ethnic groups’ beliefs and customs, along with those of the American Indians, a new Halloween began. Some of the first celebrations included “play parties”, where public events were held to celebrate the harvest. During this time, people would share stories of the dead, tell fortunes, and sing and dance.

It wasn’t until the second half of the 19th century that America started celebrating Halloween nationally after it became flooded with new immigrants, especially those from Ireland during the great Irish Potato Famine.

Today it is now a big celebration with more and more countries celebrating Halloween or their own version of it including Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), modern versions of Samhain, All Saints’ Day, and other traditions that celebrate and honor the dead.

To learn more about Halloween history, check out History.com.