Halloween 🎃

Overview

Halloween, observed annually on October 31st, is a holiday with ancient Celtic origins in the festival of Samhain, which marked the end of summer and harvest and the beginning of the 'darker half' of the year, when the veil between the living and the dead was believed to thin. Modern celebrations primarily involve dressing in costumes, trick-or-treating, carving jack-o'-lanterns, attending costume parties, and telling spooky stories, blending themes of death and the supernatural with harvest season traditions.

Origin and story

The tradition of wearing costumes originated from ancient Celtic practices, where people wore disguises to ward off or blend in with spirits during Samhain.

Jack-o'-lanterns were originally carved from turnips, potatoes, or beets in Ireland and Scotland, not pumpkins.

Quick facts

• DateOctober 31
• TypeCultural / seasonal celebration
• Great forTrick-or-treaters, Families, Costume parties

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Ways to celebrate

Nearly every Halloween staple traces back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when the boundary between the living and the dead was believed to blur — costumes and jack-o'-lanterns both started as ways to deal with that.

Do the classics

Celebrate by:

• Carving a jack-o'-lantern, or trying a turnip instead, closer to the original Irish and Scottish tradition.
• Going trick-or-treating or handing out candy, whichever side of the tradition you're on this year.

Trace it back to Samhain

Helpful resources:

• Halloween: Origins, Meaning & Traditions (HISTORY)

Lean into the spooky side

• Watching a genuinely spooky movie instead of a background one.
• Telling an actual scary story instead of just watching one.

Did you know?

Costumes started as a practical measure during Samhain — Celts disguised themselves in animal skins so wandering spirits wouldn't recognize them, not for the fun of dressing up.

Fun facts

• The tradition of wearing costumes originated from ancient Celtic practices, where people wore disguises to ward off or blend in with spirits during Samhain.
• Jack-o'-lanterns were originally carved from turnips, potatoes, or beets in Ireland and Scotland, not pumpkins.
• "Samhainophobia" is the official term for the fear of Halloween.

Sources and attribution

Halloween: Origins, Meaning & Traditions (HISTORY)

Halloween Owes Its Tricks and Treats to the Ancient Celtic New Year's Eve (Smithsonian Magazine)

External links may lead to third-party websites.

Continue your streak

Open one more holiday before you go to build daily momentum.

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FAQ

When is Halloween?

It is observed on October 31 each year.

What is Halloween?

Halloween, observed annually on October 31st, is a holiday with ancient Celtic origins in the festival of Samhain, which marked the end of summer and harvest and the beginning of the 'darker half' of the year, when the veil between the living and the dead was believed to thin. Modern celebrations primarily involve dressing in costumes, trick-or-treating, carving jack-o'-lanterns, attending costume parties, and telling spooky stories, blending themes of death and the supernatural with harvest season traditions.

How do people celebrate Halloween?

Carve a jack-o'-lantern (a turnip, if you want to be truly traditional) and wear a costume — both trace back to ancient Celtic Samhain practices for warding off or blending in with spirits.

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