Halloween’s tale began over 2,000 years ago with the Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced “sow in”), when people believed the barrier between the living and the dead grew thin. On October 31, villagers lit bonfires and donned animal skins or eerie masks to keep wandering spirits away from their harvest feast.

By the 8th century, Pope Gregory III rebranded the celebration as All Saints’ Day, making October 31 “All Hallows’ Eve,” later Halloween. The costumes stayed, now with a Christian flavor.

When the holiday crossed to America, it mingled with fall gatherings and mischief. By the 1930s, trick-or-treating had joined ghost stories and jack o’ lanterns, turning Halloween into the playful, candy-filled night we know today.