When people think of Halloween in modern America, they picture costumes, pumpkin carving, candy and bobbing for apples; however, this holiday has not always been celebrated in such a family-friendly manner. In fact, the traditions of Halloween as we know it today can be traced back over 2,000 years ago to the Celtic people of Europe.

The Origin of Halloween: Although the origin of Halloween has been disputed, they are most commonly attributed to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. This festival consisted of fortune telling by the local druids, as well as animal sacrifices and crop burnings in order to appease the spirits that were thought to roam free on Oct. 31.

Jack-o’-lanterns: Carving vegetables has been a common practice dating back to tribes in New Zealand using gourds as lanterns; however, the tradition of carving pumpkins for Halloween originated in Ireland in the 19th century. Pumpkins and turnips were carved with grotesque or unnatural faces to ward off the spirits that supposedly walked the earth.

Costumes: It was believed that spirits of the departed would walk the Earth on Oct. 31 and that these spirits would harm the living. Those who dared to leave their home on this night wore crudely-made masks in the hope that the spirits would mistake them for one of their own and let them pass.

Candy: Keeping with the theme of avoiding or appeasing the spirits on the night of Samhain, the Celtic people left food outside of their homes to give them a reason not to enter; however, some people believed not all of the spirits had a malicious intent and would attempt to invite the spirits of their family into their homes. To do this, meals were set at the table, food was placed in a path leading to their door and treats and candy were commonly left on window sills or in open doors to entice the friendly spirits to enter their homes.

Trick or treat: In ninth century Europe, a disparity in the classes existed as it does today where the upper class was incredibly wealthy while the majority of the population struggled to feed themselves. While it’s unknown who originally coined the term “trick or treat,” it was used when the needy would visit the homes of the rich. The beggars would promise to pray for the spirits of the wealthy family, sing a song or perform some other type of trick in return for food or pastries.

Devil’s Night: The infamous night before Halloween is known as “Devil’s Night” and is renowned for mischief or petty criminal behavior. This is one of the newest trends of Halloween and can be traced back to American teenagers in the 1930s in cities such as Detroit or Chicago.

Halloween’s popularity in American culture is due, in part, to its family friendliness as well as its secularism. This is what allowed the holiday to spread from Europe to America and continue to grow and evolve in our melting pot of a nation.