The word Halloween is a contraction of "All Hallows Evening", which is the night before the feast of All Saints, which is on November 1st.

Brief Historical Overview

Halloween is an evolution of the ancient Celtic festival Samhain, which was celebrated at the end of the summer season and the beginning of winter. The Celts believed that the spirits of the dead returned to the world of the living, and this festival included festive ceremonies, traditions, and superstitions.

Over the centuries, the Halloween celebration was adopted by Americans, and there the celebration evolved into what we know today, a day of costumes, cheerful parades, and treats for children and adults.

The pumpkin tradition

The pumpkin tradition, which is the hallmark of this celebration, has its roots in Irish folklore and is associated with the story of a pilgrim named Jack.

If you don’t want to make them, but you want to get into the Halloween spirit, find here! 

The history of "Trick or Treat"

About 2,000 years ago, the Celts believed that on the night of October 31st, the spirits of the dead returned to Earth. So, people gathered, lit fires, and made sacrifices to honor the friendly spirits, those of their loved ones. At the same time, they had to somehow drive away or appease the evil spirits. Thus, they either set large tables with food and left plates outside their homes to appease them, or they dressed up to scare them.  

The roots of trick-or-treating may be in Europe, but today it exists in our consciousness as a purely American custom. 

In fact, an impressive statistic regarding the celebration of the custom nowadays is that one-quarter of all candies sold in a year in America are purchased during the days of Halloween!

The Famous Halloween Parties

Of course, children are not the only ones who celebrate Halloween. Since the 1920s, the celebration of the "Day of the Dead" has become an integral part of adult life, who saw it as the perfect occasion for a party. This tradition led to the so-called Halloween Parties, which are becoming increasingly popular in Greece as well.

If you also want to join in the wild celebrations and organize an unforgettable party, you will need to find a costume, stock up on the right decorations, and find easy recipes for savory as well as sweet treats, so that the fun is guaranteed!

Discover even more to celebrate properly at Halloween: Everything you need for the most “spooky” celebration!