Halloween is celebrated on the night of October 31st every year. It originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which was celebrated on the same date.
The Celts believed that on the night of Samhain, the boundary between the living and the dead became blurred, and ghosts of the dead returned to the earth. To ward off these spirits, people would light bonfires and wear costumes to disguise themselves as evil spirits.
Later, when Christianity came to the Celtic lands, the festival was Christianized and became known as All Hallows’ Eve, the night before All Saints’ Day, a day to honor saints and martyrs.
Over time, Halloween evolved into a secular, community-based event, celebrated with decorations, costumes, and parties. Trick-or-treating, where children go door-to-door asking for candy, also became a popular Halloween tradition in the United States and other countries.
History of Halloween
Halloween originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced “sow-in”), which was celebrated on the night of October 31st. Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. The Celts believed that on this night, the boundary between the living and the dead became blurred, and ghosts of the dead returned to the earth. To ward off these spirits, people would light bonfires and wear costumes to disguise themselves as evil spirits.
When Christianity came to the Celtic lands, the festival was Christianized and became known as All Hallows’ Eve, the night before All Saints’ Day, a day to honor saints and martyrs. In the Middle Ages, the church made November 2nd All Souls’ Day, a day to honor the dead. The three-day period from October 31st to November 2nd became known as Hallowtide, a time to remember the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed.
Halloween was brought to the United States by Irish immigrants in the 19th century. The holiday was originally celebrated with games and small parties, but it gradually became more popular and commercialized. Trick-or-treating, where children go door-to-door asking for candy, became a popular Halloween tradition in the United States in the early 20th century.
Today, Halloween is celebrated in many countries around the world with costumes, decorations, parties, and trick-or-treating. The holiday has evolved over time, but its roots in ancient Celtic and Christian traditions continue to be celebrated in various ways.
Sara Ali Khan’s Review: Mamaearth’s Rosemary Hair Oil for Strong and Healthy Hair
