Halloween in Today’s Time
Halloween is now celebrated in many parts of the western world, particularly in English-speaking countries.
The term Halloween is shortened from All-hallow-even as it is the evening before All Hallows’ Day or “All Saint’s Day”. It was a day of religious festivities in Northern Europe until Popes Gregory III and Gregory IV moved the old Christian feast of All Saint’s Day from May to November 1st.
In Ireland, the name of the holiday was All Hallows’ Eve although the term is seldom used today. In Ireland, the festival is known as the night of Samhain.
In Scottish Gaelic, it is called Samhain and in Welsh, it is known as Calan Gaeaf. Halloween is also called Pooky Night in parts of Ireland, named after puca, a mischievous spirit.
Many European traditions hold that Halloween is one of the liminal times of the year when spirits can make contact with the physical world and when magic is the most potent.