Halloween is the spooky holiday that occurs at the end of October, held on the 31st. There are many common celebrations that we are used to, such as pumpkin carving, haunted houses, dressing up, and decorating our homes. But have you ever wondered why we celebrate this holiday and how people from around the world celebrate it differently? I certainly have, so I decided to start a new series in observance of these main holidays, which may have traditions that differ from community to community, and research why we have made this a worldwide holiday. The first installment of this series will, of course, be the sinister and ghoulish Halloween!

Halloween, originally known as “All Hallow’s Eve,” can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. If you’re like me and have no clue what being Celtic means, I did some research and learned that the Celts were various European tribes that originated around 1200 B.C. However, there are many conflicting sources that claim they came from different time periods. The festival of Samhain takes place from October 31 to November 1 and marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, so yes, it is actually acceptable to start decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving. Many Celts believed that Samhain weakened the barrier between the living and the dead, resulting in people dressing up in costumes and lighting bonfires to scare the spirits away. This is why the main staple of Halloween is the costumes.

Now you may wonder about the origins of some of the other famous traditions we observe during October. For starters, carving pumpkins and turning them into jack-o’-lanterns began as an Irish tradition using turnips instead of pumpkins, based on the legend of a man named Stingy Jack. Stingy Jack supposedly trapped the Devil to make a deal that he could never go to Hell after he passed away. However, when he finally did pass away, Heaven did not want him either. This resulted in Jack roaming the Earth with a lighted turnip for the rest of eternity. Consequently, many people began to carve faces into their own produce as an act of scaring off evil spirits.

The custom of trick-or-treating is said to have many different origins. The most famous one is that poor Celtic locals, still in their costumes from the Samhain festival, would go door to door of their wealthier neighbors and ask for food offerings in exchange for praying spirits away from their neighbors. This tradition was actually called “souling.” Some locals would do the same thing, but instead of praying souls away, they would simply perform, and this was their payment. Trick-or-treating didn’t really make its way to the U.S. until about the 1920s when pranking people became a widespread pastime. This led to the famous name of “trick-or-treating.”

Halloween celebrations and holidays differ from place to place all around the world. Here in Chester, we celebrate Halloween with the Fall Festival, the lighted trail at the festival, the annual haunted house at the Scout House, trunk-or-treats held at the high school and many churches, and fun parties hosted at local businesses. That being said, many places add their unique traditions.

Many Spanish-speaking countries and communities celebrate Dia de los Muertos, which actually takes place at the beginning of November. However, many outsiders correlate this holiday with Halloween. Dia de los Muertos, translated to the Day of the Dead, is when people gather to remember family members who have passed away. This is done to keep their memory alive and assure them that they will never be forgotten by their loved ones. This celebration is marked by bright colors, altars, favorite foods, and drinks. This is where the famous “sugar skull,” properly known as a Calavera or Calaveras de Azúcar, originates.

England celebrates Halloween, just like we do, but it’s often overshadowed by Guy Fawkes Night, which is celebrated on November 5. Guy Fawkes Night commemorates the failed assassination attempt on King James I. This is celebrated through bonfires, fireworks, and their version of trick-or-treating, asking for a “penny for the Guy.” Penny for the Guy is where children ask for money instead of treats so they can buy fireworks.

Many other places celebrate Halloween in much the same way as America does, but countries like Italy, Ireland, and China focus more on remembering the dead and warding off evil spirits.

So there you have it. This is the backstory of Halloween, the traditions we partake in, and how different each community celebrates this dark and creepy day.