Halloween

Halloween (October 31) traces its roots to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, observed more than 2,000 years ago. Marking the Celtic New Year and the end of the harvest season, Samhain was believed to be a liminal moment when the veil between the living and the dead grew thin. Bonfires were lit and costumes of animal skins and skulls were donned to ward off wandering spirits and honor the cycle of life and death. Through Roman conquest, Christian adaptation, and the Great Famine-driven Irish immigration to America in the 19th century, Samhain evolved into the modern Halloween we know today — a global festival of costumes, trick-or-treating, jack-o-lanterns, and community celebration. At its heart, Halloween remains a tribute to the supernatural and a ritual of community bonding: it opens doors between neighbors, turns strangers into smiling participants, and transforms fear into shared laughter and belonging.