🎃 Halloween Countdown
When is Halloween?
Halloween is always October 31st — a fixed date every year, the evening before All Saints' Day.
The history of Halloween
Halloween has its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, when it was believed the boundary between the living and the dead grew thin. The name 'Halloween' comes from 'All Hallows' Eve,' the night before the Christian feast of All Saints' Day, and many customs blend these ancient and Christian traditions.
Modern American Halloween is celebrated with costumes, carved pumpkins (jack-o'-lanterns), trick-or-treating for candy, haunted houses, and spooky decorations, making it one of the most commercially popular holidays of the year.
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Frequently asked questions
Halloween is always October 31st.
No — it's a widely observed occasion but not an official U.S. federal holiday, so most banks, schools and government offices stay open.
It traces back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian observance of All Hallows' Eve, the night before All Saints' Day.
The jack-o'-lantern tradition evolved from an Irish folk tale about 'Stingy Jack,' originally carved from turnips before pumpkins became the American norm.