The Celts believed that the souls of the dead visited Earth on the last day of October and had a festival called Samhain to honor the dead. The Romans conquered the Celts and combined Samhain with their own festivals. In the 8th century, the Catholic Church declared November 1st as All Saints' Day to honor saints. Today, Halloween traditions vary by location but include foods, decorations, superstitions, and activities to honor or protect oneself from the dead.