Today, we associate Halloween with pumpkins, costumes, trick-or-treating, and parties. But what if we looked at it through the lens of time? The history of Halloween is rich and complex – from Celtic rituals and Christian traditions to modern street celebrations. How Halloween is celebrated has changed across time and cultures.
The Origin of Halloween
What we now call Halloween has its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, celebrated at the end of October and beginning of November. It marked the end of summer and the beginning of winter. The Celts believed that during this time, the boundary between the world of the living and the dead became thin. Souls of the dead could return, along with dark forces. To protect themselves, people lit bonfires, wore masks and costumes, and performed rituals to either appease or ward off the spirits. According to legend, this night was when the spirits of the dead could return to the Earth – and people lit fires and wore frightening disguises to confuse and scare them away.
Jack- O’- Lantern
You’ve probably seen a carved pumpkin with a glowing smile – but the story of the Jack-O’-Lantern is much darker. According to legend, a stingy man named Jack tricked the devil but was not accepted in either heaven or hell after death. Instead, he was doomed to wander the world with a glowing coal inside a hollowed-out turnip.
In Ireland, people carved scary faces into root vegetables to scare Jack’s soul away from their homes. The original Jack-o’-lantern was actually a turnip – only in America did immigrants begin using local pumpkins instead, giving rise to the symbol of Halloween we know today.
Halloween in Medieval Times
During the time of Charles IV, Halloween would have been a quiet spiritual occasion. Instead of pumpkins and costumes, people lit candles on graves and attended masses for the dead. Like much of Europe, Prague was full of legends about ghosts, divine punishments, and miracles. Honoring the dead was a serious and solemn act – more like the Czech All Souls’ Day (Dušičky) than modern Halloween.
Halloween in the Industrial Revolution
As cities expanded and technology progressed in the 19th century, people returned to ghost stories, mystery, and spiritualism. Stories of hauntings and paranormal experiences became popular entertainment. Halloween in this period might have reflected Victorian aesthetics – mysterious, eerie, but also playful. Costumes like witches became fashionable and remain popular today.
Halloween Today
In the 21st century, Halloween has become a global celebration. Themed parties, decorations, pumpkin-flavored treats, and events for both children and adults fill October. What began as a sacred ritual has turned into an experiential holiday. Whether you love haunted houses or dressing up, Halloween is all about the experience.
In the Czech Republic, Halloween wasn’t historically celebrated as widely, but it’s gaining popularity every year. Pumpkins on doorsteps, costumes in schools, orange-and-black displays in shops – younger generations are embracing it their own way. Still, the traditional Czech holiday All Souls’ Day (Dušičky) is deeply rooted. Every November 2nd, families visit cemeteries, decorate graves with flowers, and light candles in memory of loved ones.
Today, both holidays coexist. One is playful, the other spiritual. One belongs to the living, the other honors the dead. Together, they remind us that autumn is the season where light meets darkness.
Bonus Tip: From the Past to the Present – at House of Fun!
Curious about how Halloween would have looked in different time periods? Visit the 6th floor of Máj – House of Fun, where you’ll find a special Halloween – themed exhibition full of surprises. Maybe even a skeleton or two hiding in the Back in Time museum… At Back in Time Prague, you can literally walk through Czech history – from the prophecy of princess Libuše to the Prague Uprising. With 5D cinema technology, scents, lights, sound, and holograms, historical events come to life all around you.
And if you’re in the mood for modern fun, stay at House of Fun: At Levels Prague, a Halloween party awaits with a Fear House theme, arcade games, music, lights, and more. Want to compete for best costume? Head to Fly Vista on the top floor for Halloween with a view.
