Halloween
Halloween the night of 31 October, the eve of All Saints' Day. Halloween is of pre-Christian origin, being associated with the Celtic festival Samhain, when ghosts and spirits were thought to be abroad. Adopted as a Christian festival, it gradually became a secular rather than a Christian observance, involving dressing up and the wearing of masks. These secular customs were popularized in the US in the late 19th century and later developed into the custom of children playing trick or treat.
The name is recorded from the late 18th century, and is a contraction of All Hallows Even ‘All Saints Eve’; hallow here means a holy person or saint.
The name is recorded from the late 18th century, and is a contraction of All Hallows Even ‘All Saints Eve’; hallow here means a holy person or saint.
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Halloween
