Halloween Around the World

​The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when Autumn began. Celts believed that during certain dates, the bridges of the worlds could open and spirits or demons would walk around on earth.  

​Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as a time to honor all saints. Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. 

​The tradition of dressing in costume for Halloween has both European and Celtic roots. On Halloween, when it was believed that ghosts came back to the earthly world, people thought that they would encounter ghosts if they left their homes. To avoid being recognized by these ghosts, people would wear masks when they left their homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits.

​On Halloween, to keep ghosts away from their houses, people would place bowls of food outside their homes to calm the ghosts and prevent them from going inside their houses and staying there.

​The practice of decorating jack-o'-lanterns originated in Ireland. In fact, the name, jack-o'-lantern, comes from an Irish folktale about a man named Stingy Jack. Irish immigrants brought the tradition to America, home of the pumpkin, and it became part of Halloween festivities.