Halloween has been celebrated for thousands of years, but it started right here in Ireland!
Long ago, the ancient Celts celebrated a festival called Samhain (pronounced “Sow-in”), which marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. People believed that on the night of October 31st, the spirits of the dead could cross into the world of the living. To protect themselves, people lit bonfires and wore costumes to scare away evil spirits.
When Christianity spread through Ireland, the festival became linked with All Hallows’ Eve — the night before All Saints’ Day on November 1st. Over time, “All Hallows’ Eve” was shortened to Halloween.
Irish immigrants later brought the traditions of Halloween to America, where new customs — like trick-or-treating and pumpkin carving — developed and spread around the world. So, the Halloween we know today has its roots in Irish history and Celtic folklore!