October 31 is Halloween, a night of costumes, candy and a little spookiness. Its roots go back 2,000 years to the Celtic festival of Samhain, when people lit bonfires to ward off spirits.
The name “Halloween” comes from “All Hallows’ Eve,” the night before All Saints’ Day. Irish immigrants brought the tradition to America, where jack-o’-lanterns, trick-or-treating and ghost stories took hold. Today, Halloween is celebrated worldwide: kids in the U.S. go trick-or-treating, Ireland still honors bonfires and Japan hosts elaborate cosplay parties.
Whether carving pumpkins or collecting candy, Halloween is a mix of history, harvest and hocus pocus.
– Staff report with AI assist*, The Today 100
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