Halloween's origins can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which was a pagan celebration to mark the end of summer and the beginning of winter:
The festival
The Celts believed that on the night of Samhain, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. They celebrated by:
Lighting bonfires: To guide souls to the afterlife and to frighten away evil spirits
Wearing costumes: To avoid being recognized by ghosts and to confuse spirits
Dancing around bonfires: To keep evil spirits away
Divination: To seek answers about marriage, health, and death
Setting out favorite foods for the dead: To welcome departed loved ones
The name
The word "Halloween" is thought to be a combination of the word "Hallow", which originally meant "saint", and "een", an abbreviation of "eve" or night before.
The date
The Celts celebrated Samhain on October 31, the night before the new year, which they celebrated on November 1.
The location
The Celts lived in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France.
The cave
According to a National Geographic article, the cave where Halloween originated is Oweynagat, which means "cave of the cats".
The popularity
The popularity of Halloween skyrocketed in the 20th century.
The traditions
Over the centuries, Halloween has evolved into a day of parties, costumes, jack-o-lanterns, and trick-or-treating.
SOURCE: AI Generated
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