Halloween is celebrated each year on October 31 and traces its roots to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people believed the boundary between the living and the dead became blurred. As Christianity spread through Europe, many Samhain traditions blended with the observance of All Hallows' Eve, the evening before All Saints' Day.
Over the centuries, Halloween evolved into a largely secular holiday centered on costumes, trick-or-treating, carved pumpkins, haunted attractions, and seasonal festivities. Many of today's traditions, including jack-o'-lanterns and costume-wearing, developed from European folklore and were later popularized in North America.
Today, Halloween is celebrated around the world as a day of community events, creative costumes, spooky entertainment, and autumn traditions, while still reflecting elements of its centuries-old origins.
31 October 2026
