When October arrives, besides welcoming autumn, the first thought is:What should I dress up as this Halloween? Which party should I go to? But have you ever wondered how Halloween started and why we celebrate it? In this post, we explore the true origins of Halloween, from its ancient roots to how it is celebrated today in Spain.

From Samhain to Halloween

Halloween’s story begins over 2,000 years ago with the Celtic festival of Samhain, celebrated in Ireland, Scotland, and other parts of Northern Europe. The Celts believed that on the night of October 31st, the harvest season ended and the boundary between the living and the dead disappeared, allowing spirits to return to Earth.

With the arrival of Christianity, this pagan celebration merged with All Hallows’ Day, originally celebrated on May 13th, but Pope Gregory III moved it to November 1st. The night before became All Hallows’ Eve, which eventually transformed into Halloween.

From Europe to the United States: Halloween’s Transformation

In the 19th century, during a period of great famine, millions of Irish and Scottish immigrants arrived in the United States, bringing their Samhain traditions with them. The celebration mixed with local customs and adapted to modern life.

Over time, Halloween ceased to be a religious or spiritual ritual and became a community-centered celebration focused on fun and creativity. New traditions emerged, such as carving pumpkins (jack-o’-lanterns), going door-to-door for candy (trick or treat), and dressing up to scare away spirits or just for fun.

By the mid-20th century, American popular culture and cinema turned Halloween into the party we know today, with horror movies, spooky decorations, and themed parties around the world.

Halloween Symbols: Pumpkins, Witches, and Ghosts

• Carved pumpkins (Jack-o’-lanterns): This tradition comes from Ireland, where turnips or beets were used to scare away evil spirits. In the U.S., they were replaced with larger, easier-to-carve pumpkins. Lighting a pumpkin now symbolizes warding off evil spirits and adds a decorative touch to the night.
  
  
• Witches and ghosts: Witches, with their pointed hats and brooms, and ghosts represent Celtic beliefs about spirits returning on Samhain night. Dressing as these characters was a way to scare or confuse spirits for protection.

• Trick or treat: This tradition originated from old European customs of asking for “food” in exchange for prayers for the dead, evolving in the U.S. into asking for candy door-to-door.
  
  

Halloween in Spain Today

In Spain, Halloween has become increasingly popular, especially among young people and international communities. Cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia host themed parties, haunted tours, and special events in bars and clubs. Additionally, November 1st is All Saints’ Day, a very Spanish tradition that coexists with the spookiest night of the year.

Whether dressing up, decorating your flat, or watching scary movies, Halloween is now a way to have fun and connect with others.

If you live in Spain with helpHousing, get ready to enjoy it to the fullest! Join events with other students and celebrate Halloween from your new home.

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