Halloween: Origins and Traditions

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A spooky Halloween scene in a graveyard with Jack-o-lanterns.

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Halloween 2023

When Is Halloween 2023? Halloween is celebrated each year on October 31. Halloween 2023 will take place on Tuesday, October 31. Ancient History of Halloween Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago, mostly in the area that is now Ireland, the United […]

Samhain

Samhain (a Gaelic word pronounced “sow-win”) is a pagan religious festival originating from an ancient Celtic spiritual tradition. It is usually celebrated from October 31 to November 1 to welcome in the harvest and usher in “the dark half of the year.”

Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos)

On the Mexican holiday known as the Day of the Dead, families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration.

Rio Celebrates Dia De MuertosRIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - NOVEMBER 01: Revelers dance during a Day of the Dead party on November 1, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Brazilians often mark the traditional Mexican holiday by visiting loved ones' graves and sometimes leaving offerings of food or drink. The day officially falls tomorrow in Brazil and is a national holiday. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Halloween Around the World

How Día de los Muertos Is Celebrated in Latin America In Mexico, Latin America and Spain, All Souls’ Day, which takes place on November 2, is commemorated with a three-day celebration that begins on the evening of October 31. The celebration is designed to honor the dead who, it is believed, return to their earthly […]