What is the History behind halloween?

Question

When was halloween first started and for what reason? What are the costumes for and the candy and the "trick or treat" phrase? Why is it on october 31, all saints day? What was the purpose of halloween? What is the history behind it?

Answer 1

"it was introduced in the 7th century to commemorate all those saints and martyrs who had no special day to themselves and was held on May 14. but in the eighth century All Hallows' Day was moved to November 1st, to counteract the pagan celebrations held on the date.
October 31, the eve of November 1, was the last night of the year in the ancient Celtic calender and was celebrated as the end of summer and its fruitfulness. it was the festival that the Celts of northern Europe marked with bonfires, to help the sun through the winter.
Winter also called to mind the chill and blackness of the grave, and so it was a time when ghosts would walk, and supernatural spirits, warlocks, and witches would hold their revels.
Only since the late 18th and early 19th centuries has developed into a festive time for children, with costumes lanterns and games. Before then it was regarded as a night of fear, and wise men, respectful of hob-goblins and wandering demons, stayed indoors.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, however, it was customary for "guisers" -- people in weird masks and costumes -- to go from house to house, singing and dancing to keep evil at bay, or to go about as representations of the ghosts and goblins of the night.

Trick or Treat
This custom has survived today in many parts of the world, as a children's masquerade. in the United States costumed children go from door to door in a ritual known as trick or treat. They usually carry a sack and threaten to play a trick on the householders if they didn't get their 'treat,' in the form of cookies or candy.
The halloween lanterns, made from a hollowed-out pumpkin or turnip with a candle inside it, is a relic from the days when food offerings were made to the spirits of the dead."

-Strange Stories Amazing Facts (i typed all of that straight from the book, by the way! haha)

Answer 2

It was originally "Allentide" or the celebration of the last apple harvest, before evolving into Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest and the earth entering into a period of sleep for winter.
For the Celts in particular it was associated with the dead, and of endings.

The "evil" connotations didn't really come into the mix until the Catholic Church designated Nov. 1 as "All Hallows (Saints) Day" and Halloween (Hallowed Eve) became known as the day when evil spirits roamed the night causing as much mischief as they could before being banished to Hell by the power of the Saints on All Saints Day.

That's the (very) short version. There's a lot of mingling of Celtic, Teutonic, Norse, English and Early Christian beliefs, customs and folklore in the evolution of what we know call Hallowe'en.

Answer 3

People would dress up to blend in with the ghosts and evil spirits that came out on All Hallows Eve.

Answer 4

all saints day used to be all souls day. that was the day the unhappy dead came back to try to occupy a body so everyone dressed up ugly so the ghosts wouldn't pick them

Answer 5

ahm ... they burned a bunch a women in middle ages?

Answer 6

There may be something of use here.

Answer 7

go to this link: http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/halloween