Halloween or Hallowe'en is a celebration observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Saints' Day. It begins the observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints, martyrs, and all the faithful departed. One theory holds that many Halloween traditions were influenced by Celtic harvest festivals, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain, which are believed to have pagan roots. Some go further and suggest that Samhain may have been Christianized as All Hallow's Day, along with its eve, by the early Church. Other academics believe Halloween began solely as a Christian holiday, being the vigil of All Hallow's Day. Celebrated in Ireland and Scotland for centuries, Irish and Scottish immigrants took many Halloween customs to North America in the 19th century, and then through American influence Halloween had spread to other countries by the late 20th and early 21st century.
| Also called | Hallowe'en, All Hallowe'en, All Hallows' Eve, All Saints' Eve |
| Observed by | Western Christians and many non-Christians around the world |
| Significance | First day of Allhallowtide |
| Celebrations | Trick-or-treating, costume parties, making jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, divination, apple bobbing, visiting haunted attractions. |
| Observances | Church services, prayer, fasting, and vigil |
| Date | 31 October |
| date | 31 October |
| Related to | Samhain, Hop-tu-Naa, Calan Gaeaf, Allantide, Day of the Dead, Reformation Day, All Saints' Day, Mischief Night (cf. vigil) |
About Halloween
Slasher film that revisits the blood drenched beginnings of horror film legend Michael Myers. After being committed to a mental asylum for 15 years, Myers escapes to terrorize Haddonfield. The film was directed by Rob Zombie.
Achievement of Halloween
The movie was nominated for the Best Film award at the Sitges Film Festival. Sheri Moon Zombie was nominated for a Fright Meter Award.
Top Facts You Did Not Know About Halloween
Halloween Category.. Campfire story - In North America, a campfire story is a form of oral storytelling performed around an open fire at night, typically in the wilderness, largely connected with the telling of stories having supernatural motifs or elements of urban legend.. Devil's Night - Devil's Night is a name associated with October 30, the night before Halloween.. Dziady - Dziady is a term in Slavic folklore for the spirits of the ancestors and a collection of pre-Christian rites, rituals and customs that were dedicated to them.. Ghost Festival - The Ghost Festival, also known as the Zhongyuan Festival in Taoism and Yulanpen Festival in Buddhism, is a traditional Taoist and Buddhist festival held in certain East Asian countries. According to the Chinese calendar, the Ghost Festival is on the 15th night of the seventh month.. Naraka Chaturdashi - Naraka Chaturdashi is a Hindu festival that falls on Chaturdashi of the Krishna Paksha in the Hindu calendar month of Ashwayuja or Kartika. It is the second day of the five-day long festival of Diwali.. Martinisingen - Martinisingen is an old Protestant custom which is found especially in East Friesland, but also on the Lüneburg Heath and in other parts of Northern and Eastern Germany. It also goes under the names of Martini or Martinssingen and the Low German names of Sünnematten or Mattenherrn.. Masquerade ceremonies.. Autumn festivals.. Christianity and death.. Observances honoring the dead.. Halloween events.. Irish folklore.. Scottish culture.. Irish culture.. Scottish folklore.. October observances.
Latest information about Halloween updated on February 19 2023.
