What Are the Origins of Halloween?

A Brief (and Spooky) History of the Holiday We Love to Fear

As October rolls in and pumpkins start popping up on doorsteps, you might be wondering — where did Halloween actually come from? Is it all just about sweets and spooky costumes, or is there more lurking in its past? Turns out, Halloween has a rich history going back over 2,000 years — to a time of bonfires, fortune-telling, and turnips (yes, turnips!). Let’s take a little trip back in time...

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The origins of Halloween trace back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in), celebrated in what is now Ireland, the UK, and parts of northern France. Samhain marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter — a time of year often associated with death. The Celts believed that on the night of October 31st, the boundary between the living and the spirit world became blurred. Spirits of the dead could return to earth... and not all of them were friendly. To keep these spirits at bay, huge bonfires were lit, costumes were worn (usually animal heads and skins), and fortunes were told. Spooky — but meaningful.

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As the Romans conquered Celtic lands and Christianity spread, Samhain traditions began to mix with new religious festivals. One such celebration was All Saints’ Day, also known as All Hallows. It was meant to honour saints and the dearly departed. The night before All Hallows became known as All Hallows' Eve — which, over time, was shortened to... you guessed it: Halloween.

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Bobbing for Apples? Thank the Romans

Here’s a fun fact: bobbing for apples actually dates back to Roman times. It was part of a festival honouring Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees — whose symbol was, naturally, the apple. This tradition blended seamlessly with the Celtic rituals, adding yet another layer to what would become Halloween.

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Before sweets and chocolate became the go-to Halloween treat, people in medieval England celebrated a tradition called "souling." On All Saints’ Day, the poor would go door to door offering prayers or songs for the dead in exchange for food. One common offering? A small round pastry known as a soul cake. Over the centuries, souling evolved into what we now know as trick-or-treating — with children replacing soul singers and chocolates replacing cakes.

The tradition of wearing creepy costumes also has roots in Samhain. People dressed in frightening outfits to scare away evil spirits roaming the earth that night. As for jack-o’-lanterns? They actually started out as turnips, not pumpkins. In Celtic folklore, people carved scary faces into turnips to ward off a wandering spirit named Jack. When Irish immigrants brought the tradition to America in the 19th century, they discovered that pumpkins — native to the region — were much easier to carve. And just like that, a new Halloween icon was born.

Turnips, not pumpkins: In the UK, turnip carving competitions were still popular well into the 20th century!

From ancient bonfires to pumpkin spice everything, Halloween has come a long way — but at its core, it remains a time to honour the mysterious, the magical, and yes, the mildly terrifying.

So whether you're carving pumpkins, handing out sweets, or donning your creepiest costume, remember: you're part of a tradition that goes back thousands of years.

Have a safe, spooky, and spectacular Halloween!

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