Halloween originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which was a celebration of changing seasons from summer to winter. The Celts believed that on the night of October 31, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred, and the spirits of the dead would return to earth. To ward off evil spirits, the Celts would: light bonfires, wear costumes, and tell fortunes.
Over time, the traditions of Samhain blended with other cultures and religions:
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Christian influence
In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as All Saints’ Day, a day to honor Christian saints and martyrs. All Saints’ Day later became known as All Hallows’ Day, and the night before, October 31, became known as All Hallows’ Eve, and eventually Halloween.
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Irish folklore
The Irish and Scottish brought their folklore about a trickster named Jack to America, where they found pumpkins, which were easier to carve than turnips. The story of Jack-o’-lantern is said to have inspired the Irish to carve faces into pumpkins to ward off evil spirits.