October 31 is Halloween or Hallowe'en, a contraction of "All Hallows' Evening", also known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve, is a yearly celebration observed in a number of countries on the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day. It initiates the triduum of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed believers. Within Allhallowtide, the traditional focus of All Hallows' Eve revolves around the theme of using "humor and ridicule to confront the power of death".

According to many scholars, All Hallows' Eve is a Christianized feast initially influenced by Celtic harvest festivals, particularly Samhain, one of the Celtic quarter days and the beginning of the Celtic new year when the barriers between the physical world and the world of spirits was at their thinnest. Other scholars maintain that it originated independently of Samhain and has solely Christian roots. Though it has similarities with the Day(s) of the Dead of Latin America, it developed separately.

See also

• cosplay, for dressing up as specific characters.
• costume
• full_moon
• jack-o'-lantern
• October (month)
• witch_hat

More Information

Halloween (Wikipedia)