Halloween is an annual holiday celebrated on October 31. It has roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. The Celts believed that on the night before Samhain, the boundary between the living and the dead became blurred, and ghosts and other supernatural creatures could roam the earth.
Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, and telling scary stories. In the United States, Halloween is celebrated with parades, costume parties, and haunted houses. It’s a time for people of all ages to dress up in costumes and have fun.
One of the most iconic symbols of Halloween is the jack-o-lantern. Traditionally, jack-o-lanterns were made from turnips or potatoes, but today they are most often made from pumpkins. The practice of carving pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns originated in Ireland and was brought to the United States by Irish immigrants.
Another popular Halloween tradition is trick-or-treating. Children dress up in costumes and go from door to door, asking for candy. This tradition dates back to the Middle Ages, when poor people would go door-to-door on Hallowmas (November 1) asking for food in exchange for prayers for the dead.
In recent years, Halloween has become a big business. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans spent $8.8 billion on Halloween in 2019, with $2.6 billion spent on candy alone. Halloween is now the second-highest grossing commercial holiday after Christmas.
Despite its commercialization, Halloween remains a beloved holiday for many people. It’s a time for fun, spooky decorations, and spending time with friends and family.