What is Hallowe’en?

Hallowe’en is a sort of festival that occurs on 31 October and is celebrated mainly in Ireland, the United Kingdom, the USA and Canada. In Europe you now see increasing numbers of people, especially children, celebrating and wearing fancy dress.

Originally Hallowe’en was a Celtic/Irish festival that marked the beginning of a new farming year after the crops had been harvested.  The Celts also believed that it was on this day that the ghosts of all those who had died over the past 12 months would return to possess a living person for the coming year.  The reason for people dressing up therefore is to scare the spirits off and chase them away.

Source: De Caravan (NL)