Origin

• Halloween began before the first century b.c.e as a festival called Samhain, or Samain, celebrated by the ancient Celts on October 31st, the day before the Celtic new year. They believed that the dead traveled into the otherworld during this time. The day featured bonfires, food for the souls and traveling from home to home performing in costumes in exchange for food or ale. In the 6th century, the Catholic Church began celebrating the Feast of All Saints, also called All Hallows, on November 1st. However, many people continued practicing the traditions of Samhain on the night before, Hallow Evening. Through use, Hallow Evening became "Hallowe'en."
  
  

Early American Celebrations

• Halloween arrived in the United States with British and Irish immigrants. However, many Protestants frowned on the holiday, and it was not wildly celebrated until the arrival of a large number of Irish immigrants fleeing the potato famine in the 1840s. Nineteenth-century Halloween celebrations included parties and pranks. Popular party foods included fruits and vegetables associated the fall harvest such as pumpkins and apples.
  
  

Jack O'Lantern

• Jack O' Lanterns are derived from the story of Stingy Jack. According to the story, Stingy Jack went drinking with the Devil and tricked him into turning himself into a coin. Jack kept the coin in his pocket and only released the Devil when the Devil promised to stay away for one year. If Jack died, the Devil wouldn't claim his soul. When Jack finally died, the Devil made him wander through the night with nothing but a hot coal in an hollow turnip as a light. People began carving Jack O' Lanterns to ward off Jack and other evil spirits. Immigrants brought this custom to the U.S. where the turnips were replaced with pumpkins in the nineteenth century.
  
  

Modern Celebrations

• Halloween developed into a children's holiday in the 19th and 20th centuries. Trick-or-treating and costumes became part of Halloween in the 1920s and 30s as an alternative to dangerous pranks such as placing logs in the road. In the 1930s, civic groups across the country began dealing with the increased vandalism associated with Halloween by creating Halloween parties. Today, Halloween is popular with both children and adults. Boston, Washington, D.C., San Francisco host major Halloween parties resembling Mardi Gras.
  
  

Safety

• The Centers for Disease Control have several tips for a safe Halloween. Trick-or-treaters should travel in groups with a trusted adult. Visibility can be improved by adding reflective tape to costumes and treat bags and making sure trick-or-treaters carry flashlights. Safety can be improved by making sure problems such as blocked vision and tripping are limited with properly fitting masks and costumes. Accessories such as swords should be made of soft and flexible materials. Trick-or-treaters should avoid homemade treats unless they know the cook. Treats should be examined for choking hazards and signs of tampering.