These days, Halloween is a community-driven and cultural event that is celebrated with pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, costume parties, and haunted home tours. Beyond the fun and festivities, Halloween holds deeper significance for many people. It is a moment to reflect on the life-death cycle and honour departed loved ones.

Some people enjoy Halloween because of its creativity. Based on an Irish legend about “Stingy Jack,” a man destined to roam the planet with only a carved turnip for illumination, the jack-o’-lantern was created by hollowing out pumpkins and carving eerie faces.

Trick-or-Treating originated in Europe during the Middle Ages, when impoverished people would go door-to-door and be provided food in exchange for prayers for the deceased. It developed into children collecting sweets on Halloween in the US.

The occasion falls on the same day as Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a celebration in Mexico dedicated to paying respect to departed relatives. Large-scale Halloween celebrations with parades and other festivities are held in Australia, Canada, and Japan.

Over the past few years, Halloween has become popular with young people in India too.