Halloween is celebrated in the United States on October 31. The name "Halloween" is derived from "All Hallows Eve," the night before All Saints Day, a significant Christian holiday. Though Halloween originated in Europe, it was brought to North America by immigrants in the 19th century, where it grew in popularity and evolved in various ways. Traditionally, it was believed that on Halloween, the spirits of the dead could return to cause harm to people and crops. To ward off these restless spirits, people engaged in various practices, many of which have shaped today's Halloween customs. For instance, wearing costumes of monsters, ghosts, and devils was a way to scare away the malevolent spirits.
People continue to celebrate Halloween by wearing spooky costumes, but nowadays they also dress up as popular celebrities, characters from children's shows, princesses, superheroes, and more. After getting dressed up, kids go trick-or-treating, visiting houses in their neighborhoods to ask for treats like candy and snacks with a cheerful "Trick or treat!" Tradition holds that if no treat is given, they might play a trick on the homeowners. The blend of traditional and modern elements of Halloween is evident in Jack-o'-lanterns, which are carved with scary faces and placed in front of homes to ward off evil spirits and welcome trick-or-treaters. Other contemporary activities that echo Halloween's traditional roots include watching horror movies and visiting haunted houses.
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