FIFTH CENTURY B.C.E.
The Celts observe the festival of Samhain at the end of October, when they believe ghosts and demons roam the earth more so than at other times.
FIRST CENTURY C.E.
The Romans conquer the Celts and adopt the spiritistic rituals of Samhain.
SEVENTH CENTURY C.E.
Pope Boniface IV is said to have established the annual celebration of All Saints’ Day to honor martyrs.
ELEVENTH CENTURY C.E.
The second of November is designated as All Souls’ Day to commemorate the dead. Observances surrounding All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day are collectively called Hallowtide.
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY C.E.
The name of the holiday, Hallowe’en (Hallow Evening) appears in print as Halloween.
NINETEENTH CENTURY C.E.
Thousands of people who move from Ireland to the United States bring with them Halloween customs that, in time, combined with similar customs of emigrants from Britain and Germany, as well as Africa and other parts of the world.
TWENTIETH CENTURY C.E.
Halloween becomes a popular nationwide holiday in the United States.
TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY C.E.
Commercial interest in Halloween grows into a worldwide multibillion-dollar industry.