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Halloween,
a holiday observed on the evening of October 31 in most areas of
North America and in some areas of Western Europe. The holiday is symbolically associated with death and the supernatural.
Halloween falls on the eve of All Saints' Day, also known as Allhallows or Hallowmas, a holy day in the Roman Catholic and
Anglican churches. Originally a pagan festival of the dead, All Saints Day was established by the Catholic Church in the 9th
century to honor Christian saints. All Souls Day, a holy day established by the Catholic Church in the 10th century,
is also closely linked to Halloween. All Souls Day, on November 2, is observed to help purify the spirits of the dead.
Halloween is historically related to similar
folk holidays celebrated in other countries
. The Day Of The Dead, a Mexican holiday
that coincides with All Souls Day, blends Roman Catholic and Native American traditions about the souls of the dead. On the
Day of the Dead, Mexicans decorate their homes with playful imagery of animated human skeletons, leave offerings of food for
wandering spirits, and tend the graves of their deceased relatives.
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