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Halloween

✨ The night of costumes

Halloween is a celebration held every year on October 31, mainly in countries such as the United States, Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Its origins are linked to ancient Celtic traditions, especially the festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.

Over time, these customs mixed with Christian traditions connected to All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. The modern name “Halloween” comes from “All Hallows’ Eve,” meaning the evening before All Saints’ Day.

Today, Halloween is mostly known for costumes, decorated houses, carved pumpkins called jack-o’-lanterns, and the tradition of children asking for treats with the phrase “trick or treat.” Many people enjoy telling scary stories, watching horror films, or attending themed events.

Although the celebration has different meanings depending on the country and community, it is generally considered a cultural event focused on imagination, creativity, and social gatherings rather than a religious ceremony. Its symbols, such as ghosts, witches, and pumpkins, come from a mixture of folklore, history, and popular culture.

💡 Did you know?

Do you know why we carve pumpkins? Originally, in Ireland, people carved turnips or beets! Legend has it that a man named Jack had trapped the devil and was forced to wander forever with a lantern. When the Irish arrived in America, they discovered pumpkins: much larger and easier to hollow out than turnips!

Why do we dress up on Halloween night? Over 2,000 years ago, the Celts believed that during the night of Samhain, spirits returned to visit the living. To avoid being recognized or taken away by ghosts, people wore scary masks or dirtied their faces with ash to pass themselves off as other spirits!

The record for the world's largest pumpkin is impressive! Some passionate growers manage to grow pumpkins weighing over 1,200 kilos (more than 2,600 lbs)—that's heavier than a small car! To transport them, cranes must be used. Imagine the size of the lantern you could carve out of that!