According to Historian Nicholas Rogers, the history of Halloween originated in the Roman feast of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds, or in the festival of the dead called Parentalia where it is more typically linked to the Celtic festival of “Samhain”.
The origin of the word Halloween came from a Scottish variant of the fuller All-Hallows-Even (“evening”), that is, the night before All Hallows Day. All Hallows Day is the All Saints Day celebrated on 1 November in Western Christianity. Halloween is represented by a lot of images, all of which are derived in national customs, the works of the Gothic, and in horror films such as Dracula and Frankenstein.
According to the ancient beliefs of the Celts, the border between this world and the Otherworld became thin on Samhain, allowing spirits (both harmless and harmful) to pass through. The family’s ancestors were honoured and invited home while harmful spirits were warded off. It is believed that the need to ward off harmful spirits led to the wearing of costumes and masks during Halloween celebrations. Their purpose was to disguise oneself as a harmful spirit and thus avoid harm.
Source: Wikipedia
