Halloween

/hæloʊˈwin/

/hæləʊˈwin/

Other forms: Halloweens

On October 31, people celebrate Halloween by dressing in costumes, trick-or-treating, and carving pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns. If little ghosts and princesses start knocking on your door this evening, you'll know it's Halloween.

Halloween's origins go back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, known as the day the souls of the dead returned home. Costumes and bonfires were thought to scare the spirits off. Starting in the 8th century, Christians observed All Saints Day on November 1, borrowing from some Samhain traditions. October 31 became All Hallow's Eve, from the now-obsolete hallow or "saint." Eventually, this was shortened to Allhallowe'en and finally Halloween.

Definitions of Halloween

1. noun

   the evening before All Saints' Day; often devoted to pranks played by young people
   synonyms: Allhallows Eve, Hallowe'en

   type of:

   day

   a day assigned to a particular purpose or observance