Halloween is believed to have connections to the festival of Samhain celebrated among the Celts of ancient Ireland. On the day roughly corresponding to November 1 on contemporary calendars, the new year was believed to begin. This date was considered the beginning of the winter period, when livestock were brought in from pasture and land tenures were renewed. It was held that the souls of those who had died returned to visit their homes and those who had died during the year journeyed to the otherworld. People set bonfires on hilltops to relight their hearth fires for the winter and possibly to frighten away evil spirits. People sometimes wore masks and other disguises to avoid being recognized by ghosts believed to be present. In such ways, witches, hobgoblins, fairies, demons, and the like may have come to be associated with the day.

What we have today is merely "big business" and it's ways to make more money. Just like big business ruining Christmas, which is supposed to be all about Jesus' birth. In fact, Jesus was probably born in Sept. or Oct. when they took census, not in winter. Easter is about the fertility goddess and her colored eggs; nothing to do with the resurrection of Jesus. Thanksgiving is all about giving God thanks for all we have, PERIOD! Again, big business makes all holidays about buying stuff so they can be billionaires instead of millionaires.