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A Jack o' Lantern made for the Holywell Manor Halloween celebrations in 2003.

Halloween

from Old English hālig meaning holy, combined with even for evening

A Christian vigil on 31 October for the dead, now marked by costumes and carved vegetables

Living

Photo: Toby Ord, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Halloween is the evening before All Hallows' Day in Western Christianity. It begins a three-day period for remembering saints and the departed. Today it is widely celebrated with costumes, divination games, and carved lanterns.

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  • Occurs on 31 October as the eve of All Hallows' Day
  • Originates from Western Christian liturgical traditions
  • Trick-or-treating evolved from the medieval practice of souling
  • Jack-o'-lanterns originated from carved turnips in Ireland
  • Spread globally through Irish and Scottish immigration to America

What it is

Halloween is a celebration observed on 31 October. It marks the eve of All Hallows' Day in Western Christianity. The day starts Allhallowtide, a time to remember saints and the faithful departed. In popular culture, it is linked to horror and the supernatural. Many people celebrate it as a secular festival. Others keep it as a religious observance. The night involves specific customs like visiting graves or attending church services. It has become a global event with distinct regional variations.

Where it comes from

The holiday has roots in both Christian and Celtic traditions. Some scholars link it to the Gaelic festival Samhain. This theory suggests pagan harvest festivals influenced the date. Other academics argue it began as a Christian vigil. The Church set 1 November as All Saints' Day in the early medieval period. Irish and Scottish immigrants brought these customs to North America in the 19th century. American influence then spread the celebration worldwide.

How it is done

People engage in various activities on this night. Children often go door-to-door asking for treats. This practice evolved from souling, where poor people collected soul cakes in exchange for prayers. Adults attend costume parties or visit haunted attractions. Many carve vegetables into jack-o'-lanterns. Bonfires are lit in some regions. Divination games involving apples are also common. Families may light candles on graves to guide spirits.

Tools and materials

Carved vegetables serve as central symbols. Originally, turnips were used in Ireland and Britain. Pumpkins became popular in North America. Candles are placed in these lanterns or on graves. Soul cakes are baked and shared during souling. Costumes and masks are worn to disguise participants. Bonfires provide light and warmth during outdoor gatherings.

Halloween, drawn and placed

Emblem black and orange, with the flame shape. Drawn from this page, not a photograph.
  1. Living
  2. Revived
  3. Fading
  4. Historical
  5. Legendary
  6. Performed
Standing: Living Practised today by communities who hold it as their own. This says whether people still do it, not whether it works.
A flame: fire as it is used in rites of cleansing, offering and passage, from household hearths to great festivals.
Lineage
Christian liturgical year
Timing
on 31 October
Where it sits The tradition it belongs to, and when it is done.

What it is for

The original intent was spiritual remembrance. Christians prayed for the souls of the departed. Souling aimed to help deceased relatives reach heaven. Modern celebrations focus on entertainment and community. People use costumes to playfully engage with themes of death. Divination games seek insight into the future. The night allows communities to gather and share stories.

Who does it

Households participate in home-based rituals. Children are primary actors in trick-or-treating. Religious practitioners attend church services. Historically, parishioners dressed as saints in Europe. Performers create haunted attractions for public entertainment. Scholars study the historical evolution of these customs. The role of the practitioner varies by region and generation.

Peoples and places

The tradition is strongest in Ireland and the United Kingdom. It spread to North America through immigration. European countries like France and Germany have local variants. The celebration is now global due to media influence. Different cultures adapt the customs to their own contexts. Some regions retain strong religious observances. Others have fully secularized the event.

At a glance: who, where and when

Halloween costumes in Virginia
Halloween costumes in Virginia. Photo: Jarek Tuszyński, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
This photograph depicts an Bangladeshi girl lighting grave candles on the headstone of a deceased relative in the city of Chittagong for the observance of Allhallowtide . While she is doing this, her mother is praying fo
This photograph depicts an Bangladeshi girl lighting grave candles on the headstone of a deceased relative in the city o. Photo: Jashim Salam, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
A traditional Irish halloween mask from the early 20th century. Photographed at the Museum of Country Life, Ireland.
A traditional Irish halloween mask from the early 20th century. Photographed at the Museum of Country Life, Ireland.. Photo: rannṗáirtí anaiṫnid ( coṁrá ), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Snap-Apple Night, painted by Irish artist Daniel Maclise in 1833. It was inspired by a Halloween party he attended in Blarney, Ireland, in 1832. The caption in the first exhibit catalogue: There Peggy was dancing with Da
Snap-Apple Night, painted by Irish artist Daniel Maclise in 1833. It was inspired by a Halloween party he attended in Bl. Photo: Daniel Maclise, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

What people believe

Western Christianity views this as a time to honor the dead. Believers hold that souls may return on this night. Costumes were originally worn to avoid recognition by vengeful spirits. The danse macabre art form reminded viewers of mortality. Protestant reforms redefined some beliefs about purgatory. Folk beliefs persist regarding ghosts and omens.

When it is done

The event occurs annually on 31 October. It precedes All Saints' Day on 1 November. The following day is All Souls' Day. The entire period is called Allhallowtide. Some regions mark related festivals like Guy Fawkes Night. Harvest timing aligns with the end of the agricultural year.

How scholars and sceptics see it

Anthropologists trace links to Celtic harvest festivals. Historians document the Christianization of pagan dates. Researchers note the shift from religious vigil to secular party. Sociologists analyze the commercialization of the holiday. Psychologists study the appeal of fear and masquerade. Debates continue over the extent of pagan influence.

Cautions and what is closed

Some religious groups view certain customs with suspicion. Historical witch hunts occurred around this time. Modern fraudsters exploit belief in the supernatural. Physical safety is a concern at crowded events. Children should be supervised during trick-or-treating. Food allergies must be considered when distributing treats.

Compare and confuse

Halloween is distinct from Day of the Dead. The latter focuses on family altars and visits. Samhain is a pre-Christian festival with similar themes. Guy Fawkes Night shares the date but has political origins. Mischief Night occurs on the preceding evening. Each tradition reflects different cultural values and histories.

Rites that involve Halloween

Samhain and Halloween divination games

Days linked to Halloween

Todos Santos

Questions people ask about Halloween

What does the name Halloween mean?

It comes from All Hallows' Eve. Hallow means holy or saint. Even is an old word for evening. So it literally means Saint's Evening.

Is Halloween a religious holiday?

It began as a Christian vigil. It marks the start of Allhallowtide. Many still attend church services. Others treat it as a secular festival.

Where did trick-or-treating come from?

It evolved from souling. Poor people collected soul cakes. They offered prayers for the dead in return. This custom started in medieval Europe.

Why are pumpkins used for lanterns?

Turnips were used originally in Ireland. Pumpkins are native to North America. Immigrants adopted them there. They became the standard symbol later.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Halloween", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryJaadu rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes. Names and customs differ from one community to the next, and some knowledge is closed to outsiders and left out here. This page describes belief and practice. It does not say that any of it works, it is not a how-to, and it is not medical advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-05.

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The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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