As the leaves turn and the nights grow long, people across the United States and the world prepare for a night of costumed revelry, trick-or-treating, and spooky fun: Halloween. But the holiday we know today has roots stretching back thousands of years, weaving together ancient Celtic harvest festivals, Roman holidays, and medieval Christian observances.

The Celtic Roots: Samhain

The history of Halloween begins with the Celts , a people who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France. They celebrated their new year on November 1st. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with death.

The night before the new year, October 31st, was celebrated

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