What Is Halloween and Why Do We Celebrate It?
Halloween, celebrated every year on 31 October, is one of the most popular festivals in the UK. Streets fill with children dressed as witches, ghosts, and superheroes. Houses are decorated with pumpkins, cobwebs, and candles. People enjoy parties, scary movies, and games.
But where did Halloween begin? The story of Halloween in the UK goes back more than 2,000 years — to the ancient Celts who lived in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
Ancient Origins: The Celtic Festival of Samhain
The Celts celebrated Samhain (pronounced sow-in) to mark the end of summer and the beginning of winter. They believed that on the night of 31 October, the wall between the living and the dead became thin. Spirits could return to visit the world of the living.
To protect themselves, people built large bonfires, wore costumes made from animal skins, and offered food to the spirits. They hoped this would keep away bad luck during the cold, dark months.
Many of these ancient Celtic customs still influence how we celebrate Halloween today.
How Christianity Changed Halloween
When Christianity came to the British Isles, the Church tried to replace Samhain with a Christian celebration. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III named 1 November All Saints’ Day, also called All Hallows’ Day. The evening before became known as All Hallows’ Eve — which we now call Halloween.
Even with these changes, people continued some of their older traditions — lighting fires, wearing disguises, and telling ghost stories. Halloween slowly became a mix of pagan and Christian customs.
Halloween Traditions in the UK Through Time
In the Middle Ages, people in Britain took part in souling. Poor families and children went from house to house singing songs and praying for the dead. In return, they received small soul cakes. This tradition is very similar to today’s trick-or-treating.
Another old custom was guising — wearing costumes and visiting neighbours to perform songs or jokes in exchange for sweets or coins. This began in Scotland and Ireland before spreading across the UK.
Instead of pumpkins, people carved faces into turnips or swedes. They made scary lanterns to frighten away evil spirits. When Irish people moved to America in the 1800s, they discovered that pumpkins were larger and easier to carve — and that’s how the modern jack-o’-lantern was born!
Modern Halloween in the UK
By the 20th century, Halloween became a fun and commercial event, especially with the influence of American films and television. Families started to buy costumes, decorations, and sweets for children.
Common Halloween games include apple bobbing, where players try to catch apples floating in water using only their mouths. Schools and community centres often host Halloween parties, and some towns organise spooky haunted house tours or parades.
Today, Halloween is a time for fun, creativity, and community. Children enjoy dressing up, while adults decorate their homes or host themed parties. Although the festival is more about entertainment now, it still reminds us of its ancient roots — celebrating the change of seasons and our connection with the past.
The history of Halloween in the UK is full of mystery and change. From the Celtic festival of Samhain to today’s pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating, Halloween has evolved over centuries but kept its spirit of fun and imagination.
Whether you enjoy ghost stories, sweets, or just the decorations, Halloween is a night where everyone can play, laugh, and maybe feel a little scared — in a good way!
Vocabulary List
- Festival – a special day or time of celebration.
- Spirit – a ghost or soul of a person.
- Bonfire – a large outdoor fire for celebration.
- Costume – clothes worn to look like someone or something else.
- Tradition – a custom passed from older to younger people.
- Disguise – something you wear to hide who you are.
- Lantern – a light inside a container, often with a handle.
- Trick-or-treat – an activity where children ask for sweets at Halloween.
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