Holiday Ayo - The origins of Halloween come from the ancient Celtic tradition of Samhain or summer festival. In ancient times people lit bonfires and wore costumes to ward off ghosts. Some also consider ancient Celtic traditions to be a time to communicate with people who have died.

In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints or what is known as All Saints Day. The night before or on October 31st is All Hallows Eve, and then changes to Halloween. In addition to causing trouble and destroying crops, the Celts thought that the presence of otherworldly spirits made it easier for Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future.

source: Tirto.ID

To commemorate the event, Druids built large sacred bonfires, where people gathered to burn plants and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic gods. During the celebrations, the Celts wore costumes usually made from animal heads and skins, and they told each other's fortunes. When the festival was over, they lit the hearth from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.

Nicholas Rogers, a professor and historian at York University, Toronto, USA and author of Halloween: From Raganual to Party Night (Oxford University Press, 2003). "There is no strong evidence that Samhain was dedicated to the dead or for ancestor worship. According to ancient stories, Samhain was an occasion when tribal people paid tribute to their conquerors and when their ancient 'sidhs' or mounds were considered majestic palaces of the gods in the underworld," wrote Rogers as reported by Live Science.

The Celts lived 2,000 years ago, most of their descendants are now in Ireland, England and  northern France. Over time, Halloween evolved into fun activities such as trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns on pumpkins, gatherings, wearing unique costumes, and eating. Borrowing from European traditions, Americans began wearing costumes and going door to door asking for food or money, a practice that eventually became the "trick-or-treat" tradition to this day.

source: Kompas.com

In the late 1800s, there was a custom in America to make Halloween celebrations entertainment, gathering with the community and neighbors. No more discussing ghosts, jokes, and magic. At the turn of the century, Halloween parties for children and adults became the most common way to celebrate the day. People now focus on games, parties and festive costumes.