This article is based on the most popular belief on the origin of Halloween. Other theories suggest that this festival began solely as a Christian festival and has nothing to do with the Celtic festival of Samhain.
Halloween is a holiday celebrated each year on October 31.
It means hallowed evening—hallowed means something that has been made holy.
In early Europe, it was known as All Hallows’ Eve, i.e., an eve (day) for all those who are holy (saints).
Halloween originated from the ancient festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in) that was celebrated by Celts.
Celts, who lived 2000 years ago, were tribes in parts of modern-day Europe that shared a similar language, religious beliefs, traditions and culture.
They celebrated their new year on November 1.
This day marked the end of summer, and the beginning of dark, cold winter, which was associated with difficult times and human death.
Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the ghosts of the dead visited earth.
People would make offerings of food in order to get on the good side of these spirits and departed ancestors.
They would also light fires to frighten away evil spirits and use masks and other disguises to avoid being recognised by the ghosts.
This is how witches, fairies, and demons got associated with the day.
It was also believed that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future.
In the highly volatile natural world and dark, gloomy winter, these predictions were an important source of comfort.
When the Romans conquered the Celts in the 1st century, they added their own festivals of Feralia (commemorating the passing of the dead) to Halloween.
On Halloween, those who celebrate dress up as witches, vampires, etc., and go from house to house with the threat that they will pull a trick if they do not receive a treat, usually candy.
