History and customs of halloween

halloween is an annual celebration, but just what is it actually a celebration of and how did this peculiar custom originate is it, as some claim, a kind of demon worship or is it just a harmless vestige of some ancient pagan ritual
the word itself, halloween, actually has its origins in the catholic church. it comes from a contracted corruption of all hallows eve. november 1, all hollows day or all saints day, is a catholic day of observance in honor of saints. but, in the 5th century bc, in celtic ireland, summer officially ended on october 31. the holiday was called samhain sow-en, the celtic new year.
one story says that, on that day, the disembodied spirits of all those who had died throughout the preceding year would come back in search of living bodies to possess for the next year. it was believed to be their only hope for the afterlife. the celts believed all laws of space and time were suspended during this time, allo...