Halloween

Halloween falls on 31 October every year, the evening before All Saints' Day. It is not an official public holiday but is growing in popularity, especially among young people.

Halloween on 31 October has its origins in the Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of summer and the beginning of the dark half of the year. The tradition spread from Ireland and Scotland to America, from where it returned to Europe in the twentieth century. Halloween is a relatively recent phenomenon that has become particularly popular with children and young people.

Increasing numbers of children take part in trick-or-treating, dressing up and going from door to door to collect sweets. Carving pumpkins and putting up scary decorations have become popular activities. Many nightclubs, hospitality venues and student associations organise Halloween parties around 31 October.