Spooky celebrations: What hides behind the masks and costumes of Halloween

Celebrated nearly two millennia ago, Samhain (pronounced "sow-win") was commemorated by northern France, the Celts of present-day Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Starting on October 31 at dusk, communities believed that on this evening the lines separating the physical and spiritual realms were particularly weak. Gathering with Druid priests, they would create bonfires, dress in animal skins to chase away ghosts, and present offerings of animals and crops in honor of Celtic gods.

As Christianity expanded, this spiritual event would combine with other customs. Pope Gregory III instituted November 1 as All Saints' Day in the VIII century, to pay tribute to saints and martyrs. Later abbreviated to Halloween, the evening before became known as All Hallows' Eve. Some Samhain customs persisted in this merging of civilizations: donning costumes to fend off spirits, lighting bonfires, and celebrating in groups.

Later on, Halloween changed as European immigrants brought their customs to North America. After escaping to America during the Great Irish Potato Famine (1845–1852), Irish immigrants in particular were influential in disseminating Halloween rituals.

Jack-o-lantern carving was one of the most long-standing customs they brought. Originally fashioned from turnips, these lanterns were inspired by the myth of "Stingy Jack," a blacksmith who fooled the devil and was damned to roam Earth with just a carved turnip lit by coal. Pumpkins were more easily obtained in the United States and became the preferred carving medium instead of turnips.

Halloween had developed entirely in America into a community-centered event by the XX century. Organized town celebrations and parades gained popularity during the 1920s and 1930s and by mid-century Halloween was progressively recognized as a holiday for children and families. Inspired by the European habit of dressing up and completing little deeds in return for food or money, trick-or-treating evolved into a common activity still at the core of the celebrations of the festival today.

Only in the United States of America have people spent 12.2 billion dollars in 2023 and 11.6 billion dollars in 2024 on Halloween, making it the second largest commercial holiday in the United States today, second after Christmas. American Halloween customs center on costumes, pumpkin carving, haunted homes, and the cherished custom of trick-or-treating. In Mexico and Latin America, Día de los Muertos on November 1 and 2 honors the deceased with family altars, lively decorations, and vivid calaveras (skulls), therefore fostering a happy celebration of life.

From Australia, where homeowners designate trick-or-treaters with orange balloons, to European nations like France, Greece, and Sweden, where newer generations are combining it with local customs, Halloween has also traveled worldwide. Particularly among urban young people who view Western-style Halloween as a different celebration from traditional festivals like China's Hungry Ghost Festival, it is becoming increasingly popular in Asia.

This festival has also become somewhat well-known in Kazakhstan lately, particularly among younger generations and youngsters. Although specific businesses and organizations host thematic activities on this day, there are no dedicated celebrations on a national level.