What Was Halloween Like the Year You Were Born?

The holiday we know and love as Halloween got its roots from the Celtic festival of Samhain, during which folks would light bonfires as a way to ward off spirits before All Saint's Day on November 1. Both Samhain and All Saint's Day eventually began merging with All Souls' Day, a day designed by the Catholic church in 1000 AD to honor the dead each November 2, when people dressed up as devils, angels, and saints. However, these Halloween traditions didn't make their way to America until the second half of the 19th century, and the spooky affair went on to become synonymous with parties, parade, treats, and costumes.