Halloween is celebrated on October 31. Halloween is short for All Hallows Evening. During this time popular traditions are carried out right across America. Some of these traditions include bonfires, trick-or-treating, costume parties, carving jack-o-lanterns, and visiting haunted houses. In the nineteenth century Scottish and Irish immigrants carried many versions of these traditions to North America. In the late twentieth century other western countries embraced the holiday. These countries include the United States, New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom, Puerto Rico, and Canada.

The origins of Halloween come from the Celtic festival called Samhain. It was the celebration of the end of harvest season and was a time ancient pagans stocked up for the winter. Ancient Gaels believed that during October 31, the boundaries between the living and the dead became one and overlapped for a single day bringing the deceased back to life.  They believed that those who were deceased would cause damaged crops or sickness throughout communities. Ancient festivals generally involved bonfires. It was believed that insects were attracted to the fire which then attracted the bats to the area. Bats are a symbol of Halloween today. During the early years costumes and masks were worn in an attempt to appease or mimic evil spirits.

Since it first began, the history of Halloween has since evolved. The activities of Halloween tend to be more of a fun tradition than appeasing the spirits. With the influence of television and media outlet, Halloween in the US has significantly grown in popularity which now shows both children and adults dressing up for the occasion. Although it is a fun time for all, many people do take it too far and get in trouble with the law. When spending time enjoying Halloween in the USA, be mindful of those around you and remember it’s all about having innocent fun.