Halloween is one of the most prolific and entertaining holidays around the globe. The annual Halloween spending in the U.S. reached an astounding $11.6 billion in 2024. Of course, the history of Halloween dates back 5,000 years, long before the Celtic people originally settled in Ireland.

The original Samhain festival and modern Halloween as we know it have very little in common. Even so, we think it’s still worth exploring the connection and evolution from one to the other. Join us as we travel from the roots of Halloween to the best haunted attractions available today.

The History of Samhain

Samhain was originally a celebration to mark the end of the “light part” of the year. This festival signifies the beginning of the winter months, when the sun rises much later and sets much earlier. There are two key components of the Samhain celebration. The first one is to honor the ancestors, while the second one is to ward off evil spirits.

The history of Halloween shows us that people started bonfires and shared food. They lit the household fires from these bonfires as a symbol of the light guiding them through winter. The main connection between this holiday and Halloween is in the part dedicated to warding off evil spirits. Participants do this by dressing up as the evil spirits, thus avoiding harm.

Samhain Today

Samhain has grown and adjusted to modern times as a celebration. While it no longer includes sacrificing animals, you can still partake in feasts, bonfires, and dances. People who celebrate Samhain also try to connect with nature. Many of them take the time to build altars in honor of their ancestors, too.

The History of Halloween

There are quite a few theories about how Halloween initially started as the holiday that we know and celebrate today. That being said, the costumes and masks became popular in the US thanks to Irish and Scottish immigrants who moved to North America in the 19th century.

Aside from Samhain, you can also find traces of the Christian holiday All Hallows’ Day. The history of Halloween is visible in the practice of lighting candles and avoiding eating meat on the day. That is why vegetarian foods such as apples and soul cakes are so widely popular on Halloween.

Halloween Today

Halloween as we know it is primarily a holiday that celebrates the spooky, mystical, and mysterious. You can dress up as your favorite horror movie character and visit the best haunted attractions around town. There is always the option to decorate your home with jack-o-lanterns and spiderwebs and give out candy.

Whichever way you choose to celebrate Halloween, you’ll find that it has become a completely secular event. The history of Halloween started with the Samhain festival and the Christianized All Hallows’ Day, but it is now secular.

Halloween and Haunted Attractions

The history of Halloween may be vast, but this holiday is primarily about entertainment now. The best horror movies are just a click away, and there are countless realistic costumes at your disposal. Nevertheless, very few Halloween events are as fun as haunted attractions, which you can find virtually on every corner. So grab your friends and hit up a haunted house.