The Not-So-Spooky History of Halloween in the U.S.
Halloween has deep roots in ancient rituals, religious traditions and immigrant stories. How did we get to where we’re at today?
When you think of Halloween, chances are you're picturing kids in costumes, bowls of candy, and maybe even a few spooky decorations. To understand how our modern-day tradition started, we need to take a look at the past.
Halloween’s roots actually go way back—like over 2,000 years back—to an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain (pronounced sow-in). People in what is now Ireland, the U.K., and parts of northern France celebrated Samhain on October 31 to mark the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. They believed that on this night, the boundary between the living and the dead blurred, and spirits could roam the earth. Bonfires were lit, costumes were worn (usually animal skins!), and people tried to keep the ghosts at bay.
Fast forward to the 8th century: the Catholic Church tried to replace pagan traditions with Christian ones, so they declared November 1 as All Saints' Day—also known as All Hallows’ Day. That made October 31 All Hallows’ Eve, eventually shortened to “Halloween.”
Halloween made its way to the U.S with immigrants, especially the Irish during the 19th century, many of whom were fleeing the Great Potato Famine. They brought along their Halloween customs—like playing pranks, lighting jack-o’-lanterns (originally carved from turnips!), and telling ghost stories.
By the early 1900s, Halloween in America started evolving into more of a community-centered holiday. Towns held fall festivals, and over time, the focus shifted from spooky superstitions to kid-friendly fun. Trick-or-treating became popular in the mid-20th century, when families started handing out candy as a safer, more wholesome alternative to mischief and mayhem.
Today, Halloween is a full-blown cultural event in the U.S.—complete with haunted houses, costume contests, and billions of dollars spent each year on decorations, candy, and costumes.
So while the modern version of Halloween might seem like all fun and games, it actually isn’t so scary with deep roots in ancient rituals, religious traditions, and immigrant stories.
