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When most people think of Halloween,
they think of trick or treating,

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parades, bobbing for apples,
and other family-friendly activities.

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But bet you didn't know the true
story behind ancient origins of Halloween.

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It all goes back some 2,000 years
to the ancient Celtic festival known

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as Samhain celebrated
on November 1st.

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On the night before Samhain,
people believed that the dead

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returned as ghosts.
They would leave food and wine

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on their doorsteps to keep
roaming spirits at bay

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and wear masks when they left
the house so they would be

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mistaken for fellow ghosts.

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The Christian church turns Samhain
into All Saints Day or All Hallows

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in the 8th century.
The night before became

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All Hallows Eve,
later shortened to Halloween.

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You've heard of trick or treating
on Halloween but what about

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souling or guising?
All three of these traditions

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originated in medieval Britain
on All Souls Day, November 2nd,

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the needy would beg for pastries
known as soul cakes.

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In return, they would pray for
people's dead relatives.

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This was called souling.
In the medieval Halloween

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tradition of guising, 
young people would dress up

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in costume and accept food, wine, money,
and other offerings in exchange for

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singing, reciting poetry,
or telling jokes.

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In 19th century America,
Irish and Scottish immigrants

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revived these old traditions.
The result was trick or treating.

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At first it was much more about the tricks
in the form of pranks and hijinks

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than the treats.
It wasn't until the 1950s

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that the custom took on its
current family-friendly,

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kid-centered, form.
Today Halloween is big business

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with U.S consumers spending more
than 2.5 billion on costumes annually.

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Add in the candy and it's estimated that
Americans spend up to six billion

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on Halloween each year,
making it the second

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most commercial holiday 
after Christmas.

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So whether you're a fan of
tricks, treats, or trivia,

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there's a bit of Halloween history

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>> We bet you didn't know!

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[scary laughter and lightening]