Halloween is known as the one day a year everyone can dress up and be whoever they want to be without being frowned upon, within reason of course. But where did the Halloween we all know today come from? Get ready for some fast facts about this month’s holiday.

Halloween comes from the ancient Celtic holiday of Samhain. Samhain was the way of the Celtics marking the end of the harvest and the start of winter. They believed that this transition of the seasons opened up a bridge from the afterlife into this one.  This explains why we have all of the ghosts and witches now.

In many countries, Halloween is celebrated in many different ways and it is full of superstitions. In Austria they leave out bread to welcome back the spirits for the night. In Czechoslovakia, chairs are placed by the fireside on Halloween night. There is one chair for each living person in the family and one for their spirit.

“Halloween is so cool, just like every other holiday; every country has its own version of it. I love it,” junior Taylor Paris said.

The tradition of trick-or-treating actually came from the Irish and finally reached America in the 19th century. It started with reciting songs in exchange for food. Some believe it came from the Celtics dressing up to represent the spirits for festivals. The friendly little jack-o-lanterns we all know and love used to be carried around to ward off spirits with the light of the candle.

“Honestly, Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday because of all the history and beliefs that go into it,” senior Abbey Austin said. “And it’s a lot of fun to dress up.”