Halloween: From Celtic Folklore to Church Fall Festivals

How Halloween got its name

In Western Christianity, November 1 is All Saints’ Day, also known as All Hallows’ Day. The evening before it was called All Hallows’ Eve—a name that eventually shortened to Halloween.

The Christian calendar also observes All Souls’ Day on November 2, a day associated with remembering the dead. As Christian observances and older seasonal customs came into contact, traditions blended in different ways across communities. The result was not a single, simple replacement of one holiday by another, but a long process of cultural change.

From soul cakes to “trick-or-treat”

Some medieval European customs may sound familiar. In parts of England, poor people visited homes asking for small cakes called soul cakes and promised to pray for the household’s deceased relatives. In Ireland and Scotland, young people practiced guising: they wore costumes, visited homes, and sang, recited poems, or performed small tricks in exchange for food or coins.

These practices were not identical to today’s trick-or-treating, but they help explain how costumes and door-to-door visits became associated with the season. The modern American custom took shape much later. In the early 20th century, Halloween pranks sometimes became disruptive, and organized trick-or-treating offered communities a more family-friendly way to celebrate. The tradition spread widely after World War II, especially in growing suburbs.

Why pumpkins became Halloween icons

The carved lantern known as a jack-o’-lantern also changed as the tradition traveled. Irish folklore included stories of lanterns carved from turnips. When Irish immigrants brought the custom to the United States, they found that pumpkins were larger and easier to carve. The pumpkin eventually became one of Halloween’s most recognizable symbols.

Costumes have changed just as much. Disguises once connected with folk beliefs now range from ghosts and witches to superheroes, movie characters, animals, and funny costumes. For many families, dressing up is simply part of the fun.

Why do some churches hold Halloween events?

There is no single Christian response to Halloween. Some churches and families avoid it because they are uncomfortable with its associations with witchcraft, the occult, death, or frightening imagery. They may feel that taking part conflicts with their religious beliefs.

Other churches host fall festivals, family parties, or Trunk-or-Treat events. In a Trunk-or-Treat, adults decorate their cars in a parking lot and children walk from trunk to trunk collecting candy. Some events encourage friendly costumes or Bible characters and avoid frightening themes.

Churches that host these activities often see them as a safe way for families to enjoy an evening together, welcome neighbors, and build community. Their participation does not necessarily mean they are embracing the holiday’s older spiritual associations. The United Methodist Church, for example, notes that local churches may offer safe alternatives to traditional trick-or-treating, while also observing All Saints’ Day in a Christian context.

Other congregations choose not to hold Halloween events at all. These different approaches exist within American Christianity, and each church makes its own decision about how the occasion fits its beliefs and community.