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This article is about the holiday. For the Halloween movies, see Halloween (movie).
History
Halloween (more correctly, Hallowe'en) is the popular name for All Hallows' Eve, which occurs on 31 October, the day before the religious festival of All Hallows' Day.
Religious Viewpoints
Some fundamentalist Christian groups consider Halloween a Pagan holiday because of these early Pagan origins, and refer to it as "The most evil day of the year", refusing to allow their children to participate. Among these groups it is believed to still have Satanic influences, as are many other Pagan practices. Other Christians continue to connect this holiday with All Saints Day.
Neopagans also do not practice Halloween, but for different reasons. Instead of rejecting it because of its Pagan origins, they rather embrace the earlier Pagan practice and celebrate a version of the older Celtic festival of Samhain.
See also Day of the Dead
Customs
Customs and traditions associated with this day include:
- Trick-or-treat
- Bobbing for apples
- Pumpkins (used to make a Jack o'Lantern)