World Celebrates Halloween on October 31

Halloween is widely known and celebrated every year on October 31. Halloween customs, though, can be found in many other parts of the globe. In some places holidays are celebrated that, although named differently, share similar themes.

Halloween's  date was considered the beginning of the winter period, the date on which the herds were returned from pasture and land tenures were renewed. During the Samhain festival the souls of those who had died were believed to return to visit their homes, and those who had died during the year were believed to journey to the otherworld.

Halloween custom 20th centur

People set bonfires on hilltops for relighting their hearth fires for the winter and to frighten away evil spirits, and they sometimes wore masks and other disguises to avoid being recognized by the ghosts thought to be present. It was in those ways that beings such as witches, hobgoblins, fairies, and demons came to be associated with the day.

The period was also thought to be favourable for pination on matters such as marriage, health, and death.

Halloween costumes from the first half of the 20th century were terrifying. Drawing on the holiday's pagan and Christian roots -- as a night to ward off evil spirits or reconcile with death, respectively people often opted for more morbid, serious costumes than the pop culture-inspired ones of today.

Halloween in 1960s

In the 1960s costumes became lighter and more playful. Here, a masked guest with a pumpkin was captured at a fancy dress Halloween party given to welcome American actress Barbara Bates to Britain, in 1956.

Thousands of people who move from Ireland to the United States bring with them Halloween customs that, in time, combined with similar customs of emigrants from Britain and Germany, as well as Africa and other parts of the world.