A Brief History

Halloween, as we know it, evolved from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain into its modern form through a series of historical and cultural merges.

 
Ancient and Medieval History (Let’s Go Back a Few Years – 1 AD)
The ancient Celtic festival of Samhain goes back at least 2,000 years. Samhain marked the end of summer and harvest, and the beginning of the new year at the start of winter. Celts believed the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead blurred on the night of October 31, allowing the dead to return to Earth. They lit bonfires and wore costumes to ward off evil spirits.

 
Hail Caesar! (43–84 AD)
After the Romans conquered Celtic lands, their traditions, such as Feralia (a day to honor the dead) and an ode to the goddess of fruit, Pomona, were merged with Samhain. This may have introduced the tradition of bobbing for apples.

 
When the Saints Come Marching In (7th-9th, 11th Century A.D.)
In 609 AD The Catholic Church consecrated the Pantheon in Rome to honor Mary and all Martyrs on May 13th thus creating All Saints Day In the 9th century, it was moved to November 1st to coincide with Samhain, likely to help convert the Celtic people. During the 9th century the night before All Saints' Day became known as All Hallows' Eve and eventually contracted to "Halloween". The church designated November 2 as All Souls' Day to honor the dead in 1000 AD, which incorporated traditions like bonfires and parades with costumes of saints and devils.

 
Ever Hear About the Parties Our Great, Great Grandparents Used to Have? (19th Century)

Irish and Scottish immigrants brought many Halloween traditions to the United States, including the use of carved turnips (which later became pumpkins) and the practice of going house-to-house for treats. 

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I Think We Can Make Some Money Off of This (Modern History)
As the 20th century approached Halloween evolved into a more community-oriented holiday, with less focus on ghosts and more on parties. Mass-produced costumes for children began in the early 1900s, and by the 1950s, candy became the standard treat. By the end of 20th Halloween became a major cultural and commercial event, further cemented by holiday-themed movies and the growing popularity of commercialized celebrations
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