Halloween

October 31, Thursday

Halloween is a holiday celebrated on October 31 that has ancient roots tied to Celtic and Christian traditions. It symbolizes the transition from summer to winter and combines customs related to harvest celebrations, honoring the dead, and fun costume festivities.

The origins of Halloween trace back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, celebrated in what is now Ireland, Scotland, and England. Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the dark half of the year. As Christianity spread throughout Europe, these ancient traditions were adapted. In the 9th century, the Christian church established All Saints' Day on November 1, making October 31 the eve of All Saints' Day, which in English is called All Hallows' Eve (from which the name Halloween derives).

Modern Halloween traditions include several key elements that have evolved from a mix of Celtic and Christian rituals:
Costumes and masquerades. People dress up in costumes representing various characters, from fantastical creatures (vampires, witches, zombies) to popular movie heroes. This practice is linked to the ancient Celtic tradition of wearing animal skins and masks to ward off evil spirits.

Trick-or-treating. Children go from house to house, saying "Trick or treat" and receiving candies. This tradition has roots in a medieval practice where the poor would ask for alms on All Souls' Day (November 2), receiving food in exchange for prayers for the dead.

Jack-o'-lanterns. The symbol of Halloween is the carved pumpkin with a lit candle inside, known as a Jack-o'-lantern. This imagery is based on an Irish legend about a blacksmith named Jack, who tricked the devil twice and was condemned to wander the earth with a lantern made from a pumpkin after his death.

Decorations and symbols. Homes and streets are decorated with images of spiders, ghosts, skulls, bats, witches, and skeletons, emphasizing the holiday's connection to mysticism and the spirit world.

Festive parties and entertainment. Halloween parties often include games like apple bobbing (catching apples with the mouth from water), watching horror films, and costume contests. Parades and costume processions are also popular.

Mysticism and ghost stories. It is believed that supernatural beings come alive on Halloween night, and many enjoy telling scary stories related to ghosts and spirits.

Halloween

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Halloween in other years

2021 October 31, Sunday
2022 October 31, Monday
2023 October 31, Tuesday
2025 October 31, Friday

Halloween in other countries