Halloween is a patchwork of ancient traditions, Christian influence, and a hefty dose of modern commercialization. It’s the one night a year when dressing like a zombie and demanding candy from neighbors isn’t just acceptable— it’s encouraged ✨. Behind the candy, costumes, and carved pumpkins lies a history of over 2,000 years.
Let us begin in the windswept, misty hills of ancient Ireland, where the Celts celebrated Samhain (pronounced sow-in), marking the end of the harvest and the onset of winter. For the Celts, the night of October 31 was a magical time when the boundary between the world of the living and the dead blurred, with both kind and malevolent spirits having the ability to walk the earth during this liminal period. The Celts, therefore, lit huge bonfires to ward off evil spirits and wore animal skins or crude disguises to blend in with the ghosts, with these primitive "costumes" being the first step toward our modern-day Halloween getups.
Skipping ahead to the 8th century, we see the spread of Christianity across Europe, absorbing local pagan customs along the way. Pope Gregory III saw an opportunity to blend Christianity with existing traditions and established All Saints’ Day (also known as All Hallows’ Day) on the 1st of November. This was a day to honor saints and martyrs; conveniently, it fell right after Samhain. The evening before, All Hallows’ Eve, naturally evolved into a night of sacred observance while still continuing pagan celebrations.
Over time, the ancient Celtic rituals of warding off spirits became intertwined with Christian practices. The bonfires and disguises remained, but now there was an additional layer of religious significance. The night became a time not only to ward off spiteful spirits but also to honor the souls of the deceased and commemorate the lives of saints. However, the focus on the supernatural never left; instead, it deepened, with stories of saints and spirits intermingling with older myths.
It wasn’t until the mid-19th century, when Irish and Scottish immigrants began arriving in large numbers to North America, that Halloween started to take shape as we know it. Bringing their traditions of Samhain, they continued to celebrate by lighting lanterns, holding parties, and playing mischief-filled games. One of these traditions included apple bobbing, a game in which people would try to catch apples floating in a basin of water with their teeth— a leftover from Samhain’s fortune-telling customs, where apples were thought to predict one’s future marriage prospects.
The Irish also brought the legend of Stingy Jack, the basis for today’s jack-o’-lanterns. As the story goes, Jack was a sly trickster who made a deal with the Devil and was doomed to wander the earth after death with only a carved turnip lantern to light his way. In America, where pumpkins were more readily available than turnips, the carved pumpkin became the iconic Halloween decoration, lit with a candle to guide spirits away — or perhaps to invite them in.
By the early 20th century, Halloween began its shift from a spooky night of ghosts to a community-oriented holiday, especially in North America. Adults hosted costume parties and children roamed from house to house playing pranks and asking for treats — an early form of what would later become trick-or-treating. Candy companies saw an opportunity, and soon, Halloween became synonymous with (delicious) sugary treats — the commercial side of the holiday exploded, with everything from costumes to candy becoming a huge industry.
As Halloween evolved, it also embraced a myriad of cultural influences, with each culture adding its unique flair to the celebration. For instance, in Mexico, the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) honors deceased loved ones with colorful altars and offerings, blending joy and remembrance in a way that resonates with Halloween’s themes of honoring the dead. In Asia, festivals like the Hungry Ghost Festival invite families to appease spirits with food offerings, showcasing the universal belief in the connection between life and death. Today, Halloween stands as a reflection of our collective histories, creating a night where the mystical meets the mundane.
Halloween offers a moment to connect — through laughter, fright, and creativity in a world that can often feel divided. Whether you're decorating your house with eerie lights, picking out the perfect costume, or gathering with friends for a horror movie marathon, you're participating in a centuries-old tradition that has evolved with the times but continues to remain a celebration of the communities we cultivate, a night where everyone — young and old — can be part of something magical.
- Rashee Shetty,
Volunteer, Editorial Committee (2024-25)
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