Halloween Day 2023: Know its history, significance and ways of celebration in detail

Halloween party preparations are on as Halloween Day 2023 celebrations are drawing near. In India, not much is known about this day although many people do go to celebrations and parties and associate it with spookiness.

Also known as All Hallows’ Day Halloween Day is celebrated every year on October 31 which is also celebrated as All Saints’ Day. It is a holiday observed by Christians to honour their saints. The day before Halloween Day is called All Hallows’ Eve. Another remarkable thing regarding this day is that it marks the end of the summer season and the start of the winter season.

In general, this day is celebrated mostly in Europe and the USA. However, in the last few years, it has also become extremely popular in India as well.

Origin and significance of Halloween Day

It is a Celtic festival of Samhain that started in England, Ireland, and Northern France. During ancient times, the Celtic and Roman traditions celebrated it annually on October 31 when one season ended and the second season started. On this day people believed that no boundary remained between the living and the dead.

It was also believed that is why even evil spirits can return to earth easily and to mark it people wore spooky costumes. Bonfires were lit to keep the evil spirits and malevolent entities off. In general, the spirit of Halloween is to ward off all the negative and evil energies.

During Halloween, people dress in spooky costumes, drink pumpkin-spiced beverages, play pranks, treats, and tricks on each other, and decorate homes with different horror themes. More often carved pumpkins are used to create jack o’ lanterns and they are hung at all the places inside the home. People also believe that on this day encounters with the supernatural are also possible and hence many Halloween parties also have eerie and spooky items hung around.