Halloween originated 2000 years ago in Celtic traditions where the Celts celebrated the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter on November 1st, known as Samhain. They believed the night before, October 31st, was a time when the ghosts of the dead returned and people would wear costumes to disguise themselves from the ghosts. Over time, Christian holidays like All Saints' Day incorporated traditions from Samhain and Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, and wearing costumes. Today, Halloween is celebrated as a time for costumes, parties, trick-or-treating, and eating candy.

1. Halloween
Origins and Traditions

2. Origins
• Halloween began 2000 years ago in
Ireland, England, and Northern France
• Started with the ancient religion of the
Celts (Paganism).

3. Halloween
• They celebrated their New Year on
November 1st
• This day marked the beginning of the
dark, cold winter
• a time of year that was often
associated with human death.

4. Samhain (sow-in)
• On the night of October 31, they
celebrated Samhain
• They believed that the ghosts of the
dead returned to earth.

5. Costumes
• People thought that they would
encounter ghosts if they left their homes

6. Costumes
• People would wear costumes
• This way, the ghosts couldn’t recognize
them!

7. All Saints Day
• In the 600’s the Pope introduced All
Saints' Day
• This day was to honor saints and
martyrs
• He made the day on May 13th

8. A change of date
• In 834, the Pope moved All Saint's Day
from May 13th to Nov. 1st. Oct. 31st
• Now, the day before All Saint’s Day
(October 31st) was called All Hallows'
Eve
• ('hallow' means 'saint').

9. All Souls Day
• November 2nd, called All Souls Day, is
the day set apart in the Catholic Church
to remember the dead.

10. Trick-or-Treating
• Trick-or-Treating began with the poor in
the 1400s
• Poor people would beg for square
pieces of bread with raisins
• Families would give the cakes in return
for a promise to pray for the family’s
relatives

11. then children…
• Children would go to their neighbors to
ask for drinks, food, and money.

12. Today:
• Children still go from house-to-house,
but instead of drinks, food, and money,
they get candy.

13. Jack-o-Lanterns

14. The Jack-O-Lantern
• New Canadians, from Ireland used to
carry turnips with candles in them to
light their way at night and to scare
away ghosts..

15. Turnips or Pumpkins?
• When they came to Canada they found
that there were a lot of pumpkins and
they were easier to carve than turnips.

16. Decorations
• Now, Jack-O-Lanterns are used for
decorating people’s homes.

17. Today people go to parties…

18. Take their kids trick-or-treating.…

19. And eat lots of candy!

20. The End
Happy Halloween!