Halloween, a holiday favored by many children and adults alike, is fast approaching. But what’s the history behind it? How did it start? How did it come to trick-or-treating, pumpkins, and fun costumes? 

It all started back in the 9th century, as Samhain (pronounced SAH-win), an ancient Celtic spiritual tradition intended to ward off bad fortune for the coming of the new year. It was believed that the barrier between worlds was blurred during this time and that the spirits of the dead may be able to visit the living. Celtic people would leave offerings of their crops and/or animals to honor the dead that may be present. It was also believed that besides causing trouble or damaging crops, the spirits would make it easier for druids or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future, which was important for the coming winter months.

But with more and more Celtic Pagans being converted to Christianity, the church set November 1st as All Saint’s day, and November 2nd as All Soul’s day to continue the tradition of honoring the dead, and many Christians still observe these holidays today. With more people celebrating it, some started referring to All Saint’s day as “All-Hallows,” therefore the night before became All-Hallows Eve, and then later, Halloween.

So you may still be wondering where all of the modern traditions we now associate with Halloween come from. And while many pagans still celebrate Samhain, it is definitely not as popular a holiday as its modern equivalent of Halloween. The act of “souling,” was when poor people would visit wealthier families and promise to pray for the souls of their dead relatives in return for pastries called “soul cakes.” Later on, it became a tradition for children to go door to door asking for food, money, and ale as gifts. In Scotland and Ireland, many children started to dress up and perform a “trick,” such as singing a song, telling a joke, or reciting a poem. In exchange, they would receive a “treat” of coins, nuts, or fruit. This is where the tradition of “trick or treating” was born.

Whether you celebrate Halloween or not, hopefully, this article has shed some light on the not-so-known history of this holiday.