Halloween, once known as “All Hallows Eve,” is celebrated each year in the United States and other countries on October 31st.http://english.glendale.cc.ca.us/halloween1.html http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/HalloweenHome.html All Hallows Eve marked the day preceding the Catholic holiday “A Hallows Day” or “All Saints Day.”http://www.halloweenishere.com/history.html

Also said to be passed down from Druidic worship and customs from ancient Britain and Ireland over 2000 years ago as the Keltic/Celtic celebration Samhain, many customs of the modern day celebration of Halloween have their basis in the ancient belief that spirits, both evil and benevolent, were close to the living on the eve of Samhain.http://english.glendale.cc.ca.us/halloween1.html European traditions surrounding this holiday were carried to the U.S. via immigrants, with the Irish Halloween traditions coming to America during the potato famine of 1846.http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/HalloweenHome.html

The custom of going door to door for candy likely originated in Ireland. Several Irish customs resemble the practice of trick or treating. The poor in Ireland would often go door to door, asking for money or ingredients to prepare the food needed for the St. Columbus Kill festival.

People were also known to go from house to house begging for “soul cakes” in return for promises of good fortune. Fairies were also believed to roam the land on All Hallows Eve, and households believed an offering to the fairies would bring good luck and protection and that failing to offer treats or other edible items to the fairies would result in mischief against them.http://www.theholidayspot.com/halloween/trick_or_treat.htm

The modern jack-o-lantern history is steeped in superstition and fear. Legend has it that these lamps were designed to scare away evil spirits, called jacks, and one spirit in particular called Stingy Jack.http://www.history.com/content/halloween/the-jack-o-lantern The first jack 'o lanterns were hollowed out turnips or potatoes in the British Isles, Ireland and Scotland, while in England, large beets were used.http://openlibrary.org/b/OL5919109M/book_of_festival_holidays. http://www.history.com/content/halloween/the-jack-o-lantern It was not until the custom was brought over to United States, where pumpkins were plentiful, that the modern look began to take shape.http://www.thelaboroflove.com/forum/oct00/jacko.html

The custom of wearing Halloween costumes and masks likely has its roots in European and Celtic tradition and is tied to the ancient belief that souls roamed free on this day of the year. People in England, Ireland, and other European countries donned costumes and masks to avoid being recognized by ghosts and other spirits.http://www.history-of-halloween.net/

Halloween traditions involving witches and black cats originated in the old countries. Some people believed that on the night of Halloween, witches would gather in secluded areas in order to commune with the devil. There were also beliefs that witches would use this night to cast spells on the innocent. Black cats were believed to be the embodiment of spirits on the earth and many believed witches were able to take on the form of a cat. These ideas immigrated to the Americas and witches and black cats are still highly associated with Halloween.http://www.history-of-halloween.net/