There are many superstitions and symbols connected with the festival of Halloween, celebrated on October 31. The name "Halloween" means "hallowed evening" since it takes place before All Saints' Day. Halloween traditions originate from many countries and have been modified by different cultures over time.

  The Irish have a story about the origin of jack-o-lanterns. A man named Jack could not enter heaven because he was a miser, and he was unable to enter hell because he had played practical jokes on the devil. Therefore, he was left to walk the earth until Judgment Day with his lantern which was a hot coal placed in a hollowed-out turnip.

  The use of witches, ghosts, and cats in Halloween celebrations originates with the Druids. The Druids were an order of priests in ancient Gaul and Britain who believed that ghosts, spirits, fairies, witches, and elves came out on Halloween to harm people. They thought that cats had once been human beings, but were changed as punishment for their evil deeds.

  The Druids also took part in an autumn festival called "Samhain" (pronounced SAH-WIN) or "summers end". It was a celebration of the food which had been grown during the summer. The tradition of decorating with pumpkins, leaves, and cornstalks originates with this Druid festival.

  In ancient days, celtic priestesses travelled about the countryside, chanting to frighten away the evil spirits which were thought to be free to roam the earth only once a year on Halloween night. Therefore, this is believed to be the origin of the Halloween parade.

Trick or treating had its origins in the practice of "souling", where people visited homes and offered prayers for the dead in return for gifts of food.

  The modern Halloween celebrations in Canada began with the arrival of Scottish and Irish immigrants in the 1800's. Pumpkins were used for jack-o-lanterns instead of turnips. Celebrations of the fall harvest included feasts, Halloween parties, trick-or-treating, and decorating with pumpkins and corn stalks.