Halloween's rise in popularity can be attributed to several factors. For some, it's the thrill of the spooky legends and eerie atmosphere that makes the holiday appealing, while others enjoy the chance to don a costume for a day. As one character from the "Saturday Night Live" animated special, David S. Pumpkins, put it: “Halloween’s about candy, man.”

The National Retail Federation predicted that consumers would spend a combined $9 billion on Halloween-related purchases in 2018, with the average person spending $86.79 on decorations or candy. While this was a slight drop from their 2017 forecast, it was still almost three times higher than their 2005 estimates.

But how did Halloween evolve into the celebration of costumes, pumpkins and candy that we know today?

Halloween’s origin

Halloween traces its roots back to the Celts, a people who lived around 2,000 years ago in parts of northwestern Europe, including what is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France. According to History.com, they observed a festival called Samhain, which began on Oct. 31 and ended on Nov. 1 to mark the close of the harvest season and the start of the Celtic New Year, a time associated with death.

Samhain wasn’t a celebration of treats and fun. Instead, it was viewed as a time filled with danger and fear, as per the Encyclopedia Britannica. People believed that the boundary between the world of the living and the dead blurred, and spirits would return to play tricks on the living.

In response, Celtic priests built large fires to ward off malevolent spirits, as noted by the University of Albany’s history of Halloween. Some Celts would also wear masks to avoid being recognized by these spirits, which could explain the association of Halloween with witches, demons and other eerie creatures.

According to historian Nicholas Rogers in Time Magazine, the Celts likely also performed sacrifices of livestock as part of the Samhain festivities.

When the Romans later conquered Celtic lands, they merged Samhain with two of their festivals: Feralia, a day to honor the dead, and Pomona, which celebrated the goddess of fruit and trees. This combination possibly explains why apples feature so prominently in modern Halloween traditions, like bobbing for apples.

By 609 A.D., the Catholic Church began observing All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, two holidays dedicated to the memory of the dead. While Samhain continued to be celebrated in some areas, the Church eventually moved these holidays to Nov. 1 and 2, respectively.

On the night before these holidays, "All Hallows' Eve" emerged, blending Christian practices with old Samhain traditions. Over time, this evolved into Halloween as we know it today.

Halloween comes to Utah 

The history of Halloween in Utah dates back to the late 19th century, with the first recorded observances emerging in local newspapers. The earliest documented reference to Halloween in the state was in 1877, when the Salt Lake Herald reported that on Oct. 31, Utah residents, especially those from Britain, engaged in traditional “fireside pastimes,” such as snatch apple and other childhood games. However, these were informal, home-based activities, with no large-scale public events.

The first public Halloween event in Utah didn’t occur until 1885. Organized by the ladies of the Congregational Church of Salt Lake, this Halloween party was advertised in the Salt Lake Tribune and promoted as the first public celebration of its kind in the state. Held on Oct. 31, 1885, the event featured food, music, fortune-telling and cost just 25 cents to attend, with proceeds benefiting the church. This marked the beginning of Halloween transitioning from a private, home-based observance to a more community-centered celebration.

As Halloween evolved in Utah, it mirrored broader national trends, with pranks becoming a significant part of the festivities in the early 20th century. By the 1930s, Halloween in Utah, particularly in areas like Layton and Centerville, was dominated by pranks and mischief rather than the candy-centric holiday we know today. Youths would wax windows, steal automobile parts, and vandalize property. One notable event in Layton involved pranksters using signal torches to scorch a home’s porch, though the homeowner managed to put out the fire before it spread. In another incident, boys in Syracuse dumped tons of sugar beets from a rail car​.

Today, Halloween in Utah is a blend of traditional and modern customs, from community parties and haunted houses to trunk-or-treat events, reflecting both the state's historical roots and contemporary celebrations.

Where does pumpkin carving come from? 

Pumpkin carving, one of Halloween’s most iconic traditions, can also be traced back to Celtic roots. According to Britannica, the practice began with the story of Stingy Jack, a man who tricked the devil but was condemned to wander the earth after death. People would carve scary faces into turnips to keep Jack's spirit away. When Irish immigrants came to America, pumpkins were used instead of turnips, and the practice became a Halloween staple.

The birth of trick-or-treating

How did going door to door for candy get involved in all of this?

As for trick-or-treating, it may get its origins from a practice in the 10th century during the three-holiday span from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2. During this time, the poor would visit wealthier households to receive "soul cakes" in exchange for prayers for the family’s deceased relatives, according to History.com.

Another possible source of the tradition is Guy Fawkes Day, celebrated on Nov. 5, when children would go door-to-door asking for pennies in honor of the infamous British figure.

By the 1920s, trick-or-treating for candy had started in the United States, and by 1951, it was firmly established in American culture, as evidenced by its appearance in the iconic Peanuts cartoons. Today, it remains a beloved Halloween tradition for children across the country.