By JENNA MITCHELL
Staff Writer
October, the month where the holiday seasons begin. Whenever people think of October they think of trick or treating, dressing up; scaring kids, the weather starting to get cold; the leaves changing colors, pumpkin, and most importantly, Halloween. Halloween is a holiday celebrated each year on October 31. Halloween is one of those holidays that you think there isn’t much meaning behind. Most people think of it as a day where you dress up in costumes and go door to door in your neighborhood getting candy. Although, yes it is just that, there is a meaning behind how it all started. “The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts.” Pope Gregory III, in the eighteenth century designated November 1 as a time to honor all the saints. Later, Saints Day incorporated some of its traditions of Samhain. Before the name Halloween was created the day was called “All Hallows Eve.” This time of the year was often associated with human death. The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. The night of October 31 they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. With the dead being associated with this day people later evolved the holiday into a day full of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating treats.
Source: https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween