Halloween 2023

Halloween 2023 is on Tuesday, October 31, 2023 (in 265 days).  Calendar for 2023

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:

• Halloween on Wikipedia
• History of Halloween on history.com

Halloween 2024 is on Thursday, October 31, 2024 (in 631 days).  Calendar for 2024

Dates of Halloween 2023 and surrounding years as downloadable image file