The ancient origins of Halloween:
Halloween dates back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago, mostly in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1st. This day was the beginning of a dark and cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with death. On the night of October 31st, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.
History of Trick or Treating:
Borrowing from European traditions, Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money, a practice that eventually became today's trick-or-treating tradition. Parents were encouraged by newspapers and community leaders to take anything 'frightening" or "grotesque" out of Halloween celebrations. Because of these efforts, Halloween lost most of its superstitious and religious overtones by the beginning of the 20th century.
Halloween Parties:
By the 1920s and 1930s, Halloween had become a community-centered holiday, with parades and town-wide Halloween parties. Due to the high numbers of young children during the fifties baby boom, parties moved from town civic centers into classrooms and homes.
Halloween Movies:
Due to Halloween's commercial success, scary Halloween movies have a long history of being box office hits. Considered a classic horror film down to its spooky soundtrack, the movie "Halloween" inspired other iconic slasher films such as "Scream," "Nightmare on Elm Street,", and "Friday the 13th". More family-friendly Halloween movies included "Hocus Pocus," "The Nightmare Before Christmas," "Beetlejuice, and "The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown."
Halloween Today:
Today, Halloween is widely celebrated across the world, and Americans spend $6 billion annually on this holiday, making it the second largest commercial holiday after Christmas! Halloween is now associated with trick or treating, pumpkin carving, attending Halloween parties, and watching scary movies, all while dressing in costumes!
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