As pumpkins pile high on supermarket shelves and costumes emerge from storage, Halloween approaches, ready to cast its yearly spell on October 31. Known in full as All Hallows’ Evening, or Halloween, this festivity intertwines ancient Celtic roots with Christian traditions and a growing culture of costumes, trick-or-treating, and more. Here’s how Halloween evolved into the cultural phenomenon it is today—and where you can find the best celebrations across Britain.
Halloween’s Ancient Beginnings
Halloween’s origins trace back to the Celtic regions of Britain and Ireland, with the ancient festival of Samhain, meaning “Summer’s End.” This pagan event marked the end of the harvest and was thought to be a night when the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead became thin, allowing spirits to roam. Gaels, native to areas including Ireland and Scotland, would leave out food and drink as offerings to keep wandering spirits at bay and held elaborate bonfires to drive away malevolent forces.
By the 9th century, Christian influence brought All Saints’ Day on November 1, turning the night before into a celebration known as All Hallows’ Eve, or Halloween. This merging of Christian and Celtic traditions gradually transformed Halloween into the vibrant holiday celebrated today.
From “Souling” to Sweets
The custom of going door-to-door traces back to the 16th century in Britain and Ireland. People would dress in costumes and offer songs, prayers, or poems in exchange for food, a tradition known as “souling.” Children, dressed as saints, angels, or even souls of the dead, would receive “soul cakes”—small, cross-marked sweets symbolizing the freeing of a soul from purgatory.
Over the centuries, souling evolved into “guising,” where children performed in exchange for treats. When the phrase “trick-or-treat” emerged in Canada in 1917, the tradition spread across North America. After World War II, Halloween gained renewed popularity, with neighborhoods serving as a safe haven for children to collect candy.
Ancient Disguises to Modern Costumes
Costumes have always held an important place in Halloween traditions. Early Celts wore white and blackened their faces during Samhain to confuse spirits, a practice which later inspired Christian “souling” attire in the 11th century. Children, dressed as angels, saints, and demons, would ask for soul cakes in exchange for praying for the dead.
By the Victorian era, costumes became more varied, with bats, vampires, and even Egyptian pharaohs gaining popularity thanks to the influence of Gothic literature. Today, costumes range from the spooky to the whimsical, transforming Halloween into a worldwide celebration of creativity.
From Turnips to Jack O’Lanterns
Carving vegetables to ward off spirits originates from the Samhain tradition, where Gaels carved turnips to protect their homes from spirits. When Irish immigrants brought this tradition to North America, pumpkins proved an easier and more abundant choice, becoming a staple of Halloween.
The term “Jack O’Lantern” derives from the Irish folktale of “Stingy Jack,” who, denied entry to both heaven and hell, roamed the earth with an ember in a carved-out turnip. Pumpkins have since become iconic, especially in America, and eventually made their way back to Britain as a Halloween essential.
Halloween Across the World
Halloween traditions vary widely around the world, with each culture adding its unique touch.
Mexico: Día de los Muertos
In Mexico, Halloween coincides with Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, on November 1 and 2. Families honor their deceased loved ones by creating altars, cooking favorite foods, and leaving offerings. Known for its colorful skull-shaped masks and flowers, Día de los Muertos celebrates the continuity of life and remembrance.
Japan: Halloween as a Modern Celebration
Although Japan did not traditionally celebrate Halloween, costume culture has caught on, with elaborate costumes, street parties, and theme park events becoming increasingly popular. Halloween gatherings, particularly in areas like Tokyo’s Shibuya district, see crowds dressed in intricate and sometimes frightening attire.
Ireland: Fortune-Telling with Barmbrack
In Ireland, a traditional Halloween fruitcake called barmbrack is part of a fortune-telling game. Muslin-wrapped trinkets are baked into the cake, with each item symbolizing a different future: a ring suggests marriage, a coin foretells wealth, and a pea represents a single year ahead.
Italy: Day of the Dead with Sweet Fave dei Morti
In Italy, All Saints’ Day is observed with food as a connection to the dead. Fave dei morti, or “beans of the dead,” are bean-shaped cookies that represent the souls of loved ones and are a part of Italy’s ancient connection to fava beans.
Celebrating Halloween in Britain: Where to Go
Throughout Britain, Halloween has transformed into a celebration filled with festivals, haunted attractions, and costume parties. From eerie mazes to ghostly tours of historic sites, the UK offers a wide array of Halloween experiences for those looking to embrace the holiday’s spooky spirit.
This year, as people pull out costumes and carve pumpkins, Halloween’s history reminds us of its complex roots and how ancient beliefs in the supernatural continue to influence the modern celebration. Whether through trick-or-treating, dressing up, or simply embracing the festivities, Halloween endures as a night where tradition and revelry meet.
