All Hallows' Eve
Halloween is thought to have originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. People lit bonfires and wore costumes to ward off wandering spirits. Pope Gregory III, in the 700s A.D., designated November 1 as a time to honor saints and martyrs. The holiday was named All Saints’ Day and incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before All Saints' Day became known as All Hallows’ Eve and later known as Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a secular, community-based event characterized by child-friendly activities such as trick-or-treating.
Halloween has also become a favorite night for believers in the afterlife and even people looking for thrills and excitement through scary movies, haunted houses and other ghoulish activities.
