Halloween - The Beginning

In the 5th century BC, in Celtic Ireland, summer officially ended on October 31st. This was the Celtic New Year and was called Samhain (pronounced sow-en). The story goes that on this day, the spirits of anyone who had died that year would come back looking for living bodies to possess. Celts thought this was the only way to the afterlife. They also believed that all time and space was abruptly suspended on this day so spirits could mingle with the living. The living didn't want to be possessed, so at night on October 31st they put out the fires in their fireplaces, dressed up in freaky, scary costumes and made a big ruckus around the neighborhood so the spirits would be frightened away.

Halloween - The Evolution

The Romans took over the Celtic tradition of Halloween and eventually the belief in the spirit world died down and dressing up like witches and ghoulish figures became more of a ceremony. In the 1840s, Irish fleeing their country's potato famine brought their Halloween customs with them to America.