Trick or treat? A brief history of Halloween traditions

Halloween is celebrated every year on 31 October all around the world.

In countries like America, it truly is a holiday season. Trick or treats, pumpkins, spooky costumes.

But do you really know what it's all about and why its celebrated? Well fear not, folks!

No tricks, all treats...

Here's everything you need to know about how this terrifying tradition came about.

What are the origins of Halloween?

The tradition dates back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, 2,000 years ago.

The Celts believed Samhain (pronounced sow-ain) was the day in the year when the gap between our world and the spirit world was blurred, making it easier for the spirits of the dead to return.

SPOOKY. But don't be scared.

To commemorate the day, they would build huge bonfires, wear costumes and tell fortunes.

Over many years, as the Romans conquered much of Europe and Christianity spread into Celtics lands, the traditions of these beliefs and cultures blended.

DID YOU KNOW? Bobbing for apples is thought to come from the Roman's worship of Pomona, the goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona being... the apple.

Eventually, the Christian festival of "All Saints' or "All Souls Day", otherwise known as All-Hallows, took over - the night before which is called All Hallows Eve... leading to the name, yep you guessed it - Halloween.

The traditions of Halloween

Trick or Treat began hundreds of years ago in medieval England, when people would go door to door offering a pray or a song in exchange for food.

This was known back then as Souling, taking place on All Saint's Day when Christians would traditionally pray for their loved ones.

Approaching the Victorian era, the food often given was a type of pastry called a soul cake. Something resembling a biscuit, or a cake.

Only in modern times has that tradition evolved into sweets and chocolate.

Well, we have the Celts to thank for that, too as that's when the costume wearing started.

Scary costumes and petrifying pumpkins

Spooky outfits were worn to scare away any evil spirits lurking in the shadows of the celebrations.

Pumpkins however... that's an American thing.

It was brought over to the US by the Irish in the 19th century when many immigrated to America.

Whereas back home they used to carve faces in turnips, they found pumpkins were easier to grow in America, so the tradition evolved to carving the pumpkins we are familiar with today.

Kids taking part in a turnip carving competition in 1976

Creepy faces would be carved into the vegetable to scare away a mythical spirit called Jack.

That's not to say you can't still make a turnip terrifying...

So there's our brief rundown on the history of Halloween. Have a safe and spooky time.