Halloween Night and Day
Halloween, celebrated on October 31st, has origins that date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. The Celts, who lived in areas that are now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated Samhain as a time to mark the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. They believed that on the night of October 31st, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred, allowing spirits to roam the earth.
Books for Treats Day
Books for Treats Day is celebrated every year on October 31, coinciding with Halloween. Instead of handing out candy, this day encourages giving books to trick-or-treaters—a tradition that promotes literacy and healthier habits. Started in 1995 by Rebecca Morgan in Willow Glen, San Jose, CA. Frustrated by candy being the main Halloween treat, she began giving gently used children’s books purchased from library sales. The idea grew so popular that she founded the Books for Treats nonprofit in 2001, with the motto: “Feed kids’ minds, not their cavities.” Today, the movement has spread across the U.S. and Canada.
Samhain
Samhain (pronounced “Sow-in”) is an ancient Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. Celebrated from October 31 to November 1, it is one of the most significant traditional festivals in Celtic culture, originating in regions that are now Ireland, Scotland, and parts of northern Europe. Samhain is often considered the Celtic New Year and was believed to be a time when the veil between the living and the spirit world was at its thinnest.
Caramel Apple Day
Caramel Apple Day is celebrated on October 31st and is a sweet addition to Halloween festivities! This day pays tribute to the delicious autumn treat made by coating apples in gooey caramel, often followed by rolling them in nuts, candy, or chocolate. Caramel apples have been a favorite seasonal treat since the 1950s, combining the crispness of fresh apples with the indulgent sweetness of caramel.
Jack O’ Lanterns
Jack-o’-lanterns are a Halloween staple with roots in Irish folklore and ancient customs. Traditionally made by carving faces into pumpkins and illuminating them with candles, jack-o’-lanterns have become synonymous with Halloween. The practice of carving them began with the legend of “Stingy Jack,” an Irish tale about a clever trickster who managed to outsmart the Devil but was condemned to wander the earth with only a glowing coal inside a carved-out turnip to light his way.
Halloween Costumes
Halloween costumes are a central part of Halloween festivities, allowing people to dress up as characters, creatures, or concepts, bringing both spooky and playful vibes to the holiday. The tradition of wearing costumes dates back centuries and has evolved considerably over time. From spooky to silly, Halloween costumes allow for a huge range of creativity and self-expression. This tradition has become a key part of Halloween’s fun and excitement, bringing everyone together in the spirit of play and imagination.
Doorbell Day
Doorbell Day (also known as National Doorbell Day) is celebrated every year on October 31, perfectly timed with Halloween, the day when doorbells ring more than any other time thanks to trick-or-treaters. Established in 2017 by NuTone™, a home technology company, to honor the invention and evolution of the doorbell. The first electric doorbell was invented in 1831 by Joseph Henry, and later improved during the Great Depression by J. Ralph Corbett, who introduced melodious chimes that replaced harsh buzzers and knockers. Doorbells symbolize connection and hospitality, marking the moment someone arrives.
They’ve evolved from simple mechanical bells to smart video doorbells, blending tradition with technology.
Witches Halloween
Witches and Halloween are deeply connected in folklore, history, and pop culture. Halloween evolved from Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival marking the end of harvest and the start of winter. People believed the veil between worlds was thin, and witches were thought to harness this mystical energy. Witches were associated with magic, spirits, and the supernatural—key themes of Halloween. From Hocus Pocus to The Wizard of Oz, witches became iconic symbols of spooky fun.
Ghosts Halloween
Ghosts are one of the most iconic symbols of Halloween, tied to its origins and spooky traditions. Halloween evolved from Samhain, an ancient festival marking the end of harvest. People believed spirits roamed freely as the veil between worlds thinned. Ghosts represent the unknown and the afterlife—perfect for a holiday about mystery and the supernatural. From Casper to Ghostbusters, ghosts have become fun and spooky staples in Halloween media.
Haunted Houses Halloween
Haunted houses are one of the most popular Halloween traditions, blending spooky storytelling with immersive experiences. Halloween’s origins in Samhain involved beliefs about spirits roaming freely, inspiring ghostly tales and eerie settings. Haunted houses became popular in the U.S. during the early 20th century as community fundraisers and later evolved into elaborate attractions. Movies, TV shows, and urban legends have fueled the fascination with haunted spaces.
The Spirit of Halloween Stores
Spirit Halloween is the largest seasonal Halloween retailer in North America, famous for its pop-up stores and immersive spooky shopping experience. Founded in 1983 by Joseph Marver in Castro Valley, California. He converted his women’s clothing store into a Halloween shop after noticing the demand for costumes. Acquired by Spencer Gifts in 1999, which fueled rapid expansion. Today, Spirit Halloween operates over 1,500 locations across the U.S. and Canada each fall.
Here is a concise, well-organized overview of major historical events associated with October 31 across different years, cultures, and domains.
1517 – Martin Luther posts the 95 Theses
Luther is said to have nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the church door in Wittenberg, sparking the Protestant Reformation. Some historians debate whether the nailing actually occurred, but the date itself is well attested.
1541 – Michelangelo becomes chief architect of St. Peter’s Basilica
He takes over the project at age 66, reshaping the direction of one of the world’s most significant architectural works.
1587 – Leiden University Library opens
One of Europe’s earliest major libraries, established in the Netherlands.
1864 – Nevada becomes the 36th U.S. state
Its admission was rushed to help ensure President Lincoln’s reelection and secure more support for the 13th Amendment.
1876 – First weather reports published by the U.S. Weather Bureau
A key milestone for meteorology in the United States.
1892 – Arthur Conan Doyle publishes “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes”
The first Sherlock Holmes short-story collection is released.
1917 – Battle of Beersheba
Australian and New Zealand troops stage a major cavalry charge in World War I, contributing to the fall of Ottoman control in Palestine.
1926 – Harry Houdini dies
The escape artist dies in Detroit from peritonitis caused by a ruptured appendix.
1941 – Mount Rushmore completed
The faces of four U.S. presidents are finished after nearly 14 years of carving.
1956 – The UK and France begin bombing Egypt
Part of the Suez Crisis following Nasser’s nationalization of the Suez Canal.
1961 – Stalin’s body removed from Lenin’s Mausoleum
During the de-Stalinization process, his remains are moved to a location near the Kremlin Wall.
1984 – Indira Gandhi assassinated
The Indian prime minister is killed by her own Sikh bodyguards, triggering widespread violence.
1992 – The Vatican formally declares Galileo was right
The Church acknowledges Galileo’s support of heliocentrism was scientifically correct.
2000 – The first resident crew arrives at the International Space Station
Expedition 1 begins, marking the start of continuous human occupation of the ISS.
2011 – Global population reaches 7 billion (UN estimate)
A symbolic milestone in world demographics.
Notable Births
1637 – Jan Swammerdam, Dutch biologist
1795 – John Keats, English Romantic poet
1815 – Karl Weierstrass, German mathematician
1826 – Carlo Collodi, Italian author (Pinocchio)
1860 – Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA
1887 – Chiang Kai-shek, Chinese military and political leader
1891 – A. S. Besicovitch, mathematician
1896 – Ethel Waters, American singer and actress
1912 – Dale Evans, American singer and actress
1922 – Barbara Bel Geddes, American actress
1930 – Michael Collins, Apollo 11 astronaut
1931 – Dan Rather, American journalist
1936 – Michael Landon, American actor and director
1937 – Tom Paxton, American folk singer
1941 – Phil Gagliano, American baseball player
1942 – David Ogden Stiers, American actor
1951 – Nick Saban, American football coach
1961 – Larry Mullen Jr., drummer (U2)
1963 – Rob Schneider, American actor
1963 – Dermot Mulroney, American actor
1963 – Fred McGriff, American baseball player
1965 – Prince Akishino (Fumihito), Crown Prince of Japan
1976 – Piper Perabo, American actress
2000 – Willow Smith, American singer and actress
Notable Deaths
1517 – Fra Bartolomeo, Italian Renaissance painter
1632 – Johannes Kepler, German astronomer and mathematician
1693 – John Tillotson, Archbishop of Canterbury
1732 – Victor Amadeus II, King of Sardinia
1803 – Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, French novelist (Dangerous Liaisons)
1892 – Charles Gounod, French composer (Faust)
1918 – Egon Schiele, Austrian painter, victim of the Spanish Flu
1926 – Harry Houdini, Hungarian-American magician and escape artist
1929 – Georges Clemenceau, Prime Minister of France during WWI
1941 – Adolf von Harnack, German theologian and church historian
1956 – Pío del Río Hortega, Spanish neuroscientist
1963 – Georges Braque, French painter and co-founder of Cubism
1976 – Marcel Carné, French film director (Children of Paradise)
1984 – Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India (assassinated)
1988 – George Bernard Dantzig, American mathematician, originator of linear programming
1993 – Federico Fellini, influential Italian film director
1995 – Rosalind Cash, American actress
2000 – Kuala Lumpur–born actor and filmmaker Buster Merryfield (Only Fools and Horses)
2003 – Henry “Big Bank Hank” Jackson, member of The Sugarhill Gang
2010 – Harry Mulisch, Dutch novelist
2020 – Sean Connery, Scottish actor, first James Bond
2022 – Takeoff (Kirshnik Khari Ball), American rapper from Migos
