What do we understand by the word Halloween? It is a particular time of the year that happens to be completely eccentric and is also full of screamingly fun. It is the hightime or a definite time when the line between the world of the living and the world of the dead is the thinnest and you're sure to feel the freak and scare with ghosts, goblins, witches and werewolves prowling all around—both in their selves and in costumes. It is also the time when the human beings in general become naughtier with playing pranks, sprucing up in freaky costumes and scaring the wits out of the folks of others. Besides, the chill of rib-tickling thrill, a nip of spine-chilling jitters and a good fare of full-blooded scare is at the heart of Halloween celebrations. But do you think that this festival is a recent phenomenon? It has its origin 2000 years ago, but the festival is not the same as it was in the ancient times. Now, do you know where it came from? The history and origin of Halloween owes to the ancient New Year's Festival, the Celtic Samhain. It is true that even the rites and rituals of today's Halloween that are observed, are rooted in the ancient customs of the Celtic Samhain, which was said to mark the end of the summer. Keep it in mind that the Celtic Samhain was celebrated every year on October 31. It was also the day, which according to the popular belief of the Celts, was a day of the rise of the dead when the deceased would wander the land to possess earthly souls. Therefore, since there was a necessary reason to keep these spirits at bay, it was an obligation for the Celts to dress up as ghouls and also monsters and put out all lights in their homes. Not only this, they were found also to venture out as mischievous and wayward undoers willfully wantoning peace and property. The Celtic priests or Druids as a part of the Celtic Samhain used to build bonfires on this day and offered sacrifices. What used to be the central idea behind all these activities? It was to scare away the spirits of the dead and avoid being "possessed"! Now perhaps you can surely understand that the modern tradition of wearing costumes on Halloween traces back to this ancient Celtic Samhain practice!

However, it should also be taken into consideration that the ominous attitudes of the Celts on Celtic Samhain toned down over the ages to give way to the less menacing attributes of today's Halloween. It is also to be noted that the good humor and the fun side Halloween was first brought to America by the Irish immigrants around 1840. Now, for instance, the popular tradition of trick-or-treating on Halloween came from the Irish. This had been 'gifted' to the United States by the Irish immigrants who fled their country during the potato famine. In the present age, the Irish celebration of Halloween or the Hallow E'en, as it is known in the mainland of Ireland, signifies All Hallows Eve, or the night before the 'All Hallows'. When is the All Hallows Day? All Hallows Day is on November 1, and is also known as All Saint's Day, which is also the day to honor all the Catholic saints. In the country of Ireland, in the period of Halloween, it was customary for the beggars to go asking for good or money from the rich. If refused, they were threatened to be destroyed by the evil spirits. Since no body was ready to face the supernatural wrath, soul-cakes or currant buns and candy bags chockablock with goodies were kept ready for the particular period.