Origins of Hallow’s Eve

Halloween's origins can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which was celebrated on October 31st: also known as Hollow’s Eve, since November 1 was All Saint’s Day, a day in which you commemorate the dead and saints.

• Samhain was the Celtic New Year

  The Celts celebrated Samhain to mark the end of summer and the harvest, and the beginning of winter. 

• The Celts believed the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead blurred on Samhain

  They believed that the spirits of those who died the previous year would return to earth. 

• The Celts celebrated Samhain with bonfires, dancing, and costumes

  They lit bonfires to guide souls to the afterlife and to keep evil spirits away. They also wore costumes, often made of animal heads and skins, to avoid being recognized by ghosts. 

• The Celts believed Samhain was a time for divination

  They believed it was a favorable time to seek answers about marriage, health, and death. 

• The Celts carved scary faces into turnips or potatoes

  They placed these in windows and doorways to frighten away evil spirits. Turnips were first used by the Celtic, and over time, pumpkins have been adapted and are more widely popular now.