Halloween 2025

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Celtic origins: Samhain

• Time of year: Samhain was celebrated by the Celts, who lived in the area of modern-day Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France. It marked their new year and the transition from summer to the dark, cold winter.
• Spirit world: They believed that on the night of October 31st, the spirits of the dead returned to the earthly world.
• Traditions: To deal with the spirits, the Celts lit bonfires and wore costumes to disguise themselves from the ghosts and other supernatural beings that were believed to roam the night. 

Roman and Christian influence 

• Roman impact: After the Roman Empire conquered Celtic lands, some Roman traditions were blended with Samhain. These may have included festivals for the dead and the goddess of fruit, Pomona, which could have introduced traditions like “bobbing for apples,” notes Franciscan Media and Reddit users.
• Christianization: The Christian church later created its own holidays to coincide with Samhain.
  • In the 8th century, Pope Gregory IV designated November 1st as All Saints’ Day to honor all saints.
  • The night before, All Hallows’ Eve, was the original name for Halloween.
  • November 2nd was later established as All Souls’ Day to honor the dead. 

Modern Halloween

Modern rituals: Today’s traditions like “trick-or-treating,” wearing costumes, and carving jack-o’-lanterns have roots in these ancient customs. Write Your Story Here

Evolution of traditions: Over time, the pagan and Christian traditions combined to form the basis of the modern celebration.