Halloweenโs origins can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. Celebrated on November 1st, Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. The Celts believed that on the night before, October 31st, the boundary between the living and the dead became blurred, and the ghosts of the dead returned to earth12.
To ward off these spirits, people would light bonfires and wear costumes. When the Romans conquered Celtic territories, they combined their own festivals with Samhain, further shaping the traditions12.
In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as All Saintsโ Day, incorporating some of the Samhain traditions. The evening before became known as All Hallowsโ Eve, eventually evolving into Halloween13.