According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word Halloween derives from All Hallows’ Eve, meaning “the eve of All Saints’ Day.” As early as 1773, the Scots referred to All Hallows’ Eve as Hallowe’en, literally “the evening of the saints.” The first person to combine the words and establish the form Halloween was the Scottish poet Robert Burns, when he published his poem “Halloween” in 1786.
Halloween is associated with the Roman Catholic feast of All Saints, celebrated on November 1st. In the 7th century, the Church of Rome observed the feast of all saints in May. A similar celebration took place in Constantinople after Pentecost, known as the Synaxis of All Martyrs. In the 8th century, during the papacy of Gregory III, the feast was moved to November 1st, coinciding with the dedication of a church in Rome honoring all saints. In the East, however, the celebration remained linked with the Synaxis of All Martyrs and continues to be observed on the first Sunday after Pentecost.
On the eve of All Saints’ Day (October 31st), according to Roman Catholic tradition, services were held for the departed, especially for souls believed to be in purgatory — a doctrine not accepted by the Orthodox Church.
Many scholars link the Christian holiday to the ancient Celtic pagan festival Samhain, which was celebrated in northern Britain and Ireland. Samhain marked the end of summer and the beginning of winter, accompanied by rituals honoring ancestors and the spirits of the dead. Although some influences may have occurred, the Christian feast evolved separately and maintained a different meaning for centuries.
In America, the Puritan settlers, due to their strict religious beliefs, banned the celebration of All Saints’ Day — and by extension, Halloween. After 1870, references to Halloween as a secular festivity began to appear, though it did not gain much popularity at first. Halloween rose to prominence in the early 20th century when merchants introduced decorations, costumes, and greeting cards for sale. During that time, the custom of pranks also spread — pranks that sometimes turned dangerous. In 1933, extensive acts of vandalism were reported in several American cities, making that year known as the “Black Halloween.”
The trick-or-treat tradition has its roots in Canada and became popular in the United States during the 1930s. It began as a form of “bribery” to dissuade rowdy youths from causing damage, rewarding them with treats instead. It may also have been influenced by older European customs, such as souling, where children and the poor knocked on doors asking for small cakes in exchange for prayers for the dead.
Halloween costumes, though sometimes associated with Celtic or Roman festivals, appear to be a more recent addition. The first references date to around 1920, when children began dressing up as ghosts — either to ward off evil spirits or simply for fun.
The well-known pumpkins (Jack-o’-lanterns) come from Irish folklore. Irish immigrants brought the custom to the United States, where they replaced the turnips and potatoes used in Ireland with pumpkins — larger and easier to carve. The tradition is tied to the story of “Stingy Jack,” a man who tricked the devil several times and, rejected by both heaven and hell, was doomed to wander the earth carrying a lantern carved out of a pumpkin to light his endless path.
Thus, Irish immigrants in America began carving frightening faces into pumpkins and placing a light inside to ward off evil spirits.
Over time, claims have circulated that Halloween is linked to Satanism or occult practices. However, historically, there is no documented connection between Halloween and satanic worship. The origins of the holiday are complex, blending Christian, folk, and Celtic elements, without any reference to occult rites. This perception emerged mainly in the 20th century from religious circles that viewed ghostly or horror-related imagery with suspicion. In modern times, Halloween has become a secular celebration, centered on fun, costumes, and games rather than religious or mystical significance.
A question that often arises today is whether a festival like Halloween can find acceptance in countries with Orthodox Christian culture or in societies with different religious traditions. In Greece, where Orthodoxy has deep historical roots, Halloween is frequently viewed as foreign and commercialized. Nevertheless, younger generations tend to perceive it as an opportunity for enjoyment and creativity, similar to the Greek Carnival season. Meanwhile, globalization and mass media have facilitated the spread of Halloween to countries with entirely different cultural identities, such as Hong Kong or Japan. There, Halloween has taken on local variations — festivities that highlight creativity, visual aesthetics, and the thrill of the macabre, rather than any religious content. This adaptation shows that Halloween has evolved into a global cultural phenomenon, capable of integrating into diverse societies while preserving its spirit of imagination and celebration.
