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.<\/h5>\n

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1. Halloween is a holiday celebrated each year on October 31.<\/span><\/li>\n
2. It means\u00a0<\/span>hallowed evening\u2014hallowed<\/span><\/em>\u00a0means something that has been made holy.<\/span><\/li>\n
3. In early Europe, it was known as\u00a0<\/span>All Hallows\u2019 Eve<\/span><\/em>, i.e., an eve (day) for all those who are holy (saints).<\/span><\/li>\n
4. Halloween originated from the ancient festival of\u00a0<\/span>Samhain<\/span><\/em>\u00a0(pronounced sow-in) that was celebrated by Celts.<\/span><\/li>\n
5. Celts, who lived 2000 years ago, were tribes in parts of modern-day Europe that shared a similar language, religious beliefs, traditions and culture.<\/span><\/li>\n
6. They celebrated their new year on November 1.<\/span><\/li>\n
7. This day marked the end of summer, and the beginning of dark, cold winter, which was associated with difficult times and human death.<\/span><\/li>\n
8. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the ghosts of the dead visited earth.<\/span><\/li>\n
9. People would make offerings of food in order to get on the good side of these spirits and departed ancestors.<\/span><\/li>\n
10. They would also light fires to frighten away evil spirits and use masks and other disguises to avoid being recognised by the ghosts.<\/span><\/li>\n
11. This is how witches, fairies, and demons got associated with the day.<\/span><\/li>\n
12. 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.<\/span><\/li>\n
13. In the highly volatile natural world and dark, gloomy winter, these predictions were an important source of comfort.<\/span><\/li>\n
14. 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.<\/span><\/li>\n
15. 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.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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