We all love Halloween! What’s not to love? The costumes, the candy, the creativity, the creepy, and the crawly! But do you know the history behind the holiday?

Originating with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as All Saints Day which incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes, and eating treats.

In the late 1800s, there was a move in America to mold Halloween into a holiday more about community and neighborly get-togethers than about ghosts, pranks, and witchcraft. At the turn of the century, Halloween parties for both children and adults became the most common way to celebrate the day. Parties focused on games, foods of the season, and festive costumes. Because of these efforts, Halloween lost most of its superstitious and religious overtones.

So now that you know all about the history of Halloween, go out and spread the knowledge this spooky season.