There are a few things that come to mind when we think of Halloween: dressing up in costumes, carving jack-o'-lanterns, and of course, consuming lots and lots of candy. Although it's fun to dress in disguise and collect treats, there's much more to Halloween than many realize. The history of the holiday goes back many, many years—and it's even more wicked than you might think. Here's a rundown on how Halloween came to be.
You already know that Halloween takes place on October 31, but here's something you might not know: The word literally means "hallowed evening," and was known to early European celebrators as All Hallows' Eve. All Hallows' Eve (October 31) and All Saints' Day (November 1) both paid homage to saints ("hallows" = saints). The name was eventually shortened to "Halloween."
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