
Carved pumpkins on Halloween
Halloween is a celebration in remembrance of the dead that occurs annually on the evening of
October 31. The name
Halloween, sometimes spelled
Hallowe'en, is a contraction of
All Hallows' Even(ing), meaning All Saints' Evening, as it is celebrated on the evening before
All Saints' Day, also known as
All Hallows' Day. Saints have historically been known as
hallows, derived from the Old English word
hālig and related to the German word
heilig, meaning holy.
Halloween is a mixture of customs of pagan and Christian origins. It originated from an ancient Celtic seasonal festival to mark the end of the harvest and to remember the dead (known as
Samhain) that is celebrated from sunset on October 31 to sunset on November 1.
While not an official holiday, Halloween is observed in a number of countries around the world, primarily in the West (North America and Europe) but also increasingly in Asian countries, as it provides commercial opportunities. In the United States, it is estimated to be the festival with the second-highest amount of consumer spending after
Christmas.
Halloween is followed by All Saints' Day (for which it is the vigil) on November 1 and
All Souls' Day on November 2. Together the three days of remembrance of the dead form the triduum (a religious observance lasting three days) of
Hallowtide. People traditionally visit the graves of deceased relatives during this time. It is related to the Mexican holiday
Day of the Dead.
Further reading:
2021 calendar as templates for
Word, Excel and PDF
A selection of calendar templates for 2021 in landscape and portrait orientation and with US federal holidays, suitable for a variety of applications.