Celts. Each year they held a special festival to honour Samhain, the god of the dead, on October 31 -- which was the Celts' New Year's Eve. They lit huge bonfires to scare away any evil spirits which might harm people or herds of animals returning from summer grazing pastures. The Celts also believed that the souls of the dead would revisit their homes during this time.

During the Middle Ages in Scotland and Ireland, this festival was turned into a feast honouring all the Christian saints. It was known as All Hallows and took place on November 1.

But on All Hallows' Eve people believed that witches, sometimes in the form of black cats, flew about and ghosts, demons and goblins roamed the land.

All Hallows' Eve was also supposed to be a time for fortune telling: who would marry whom, how long they would live, and if they would be lucky. It was also a time for bobbing apples.

The Irish believed that leprechauns played pranks on All Hallows Eve, which is how mischief-making became part of the festivities.

In time, All Hallows Eve became Hallowe'en, and the Irish and Scots are credited with carrying its traditions to the United States approximately 160 years ago.

How the jack-o'-lantern, a favourite symbol of Hallowe'en, got its name is not known. In Scotland, a hollowed out turnip was used, but the pumpkin has its origins in the United States.