Halloweenoriginatedasacelebrationconnectedwithevilspirits.Witchesflyingonbroomstickswithghosts,goblinsandskeletonshaveallevolvedassymbolsofHalloween.Bats,owlsandothernocturnalanimalsarealsopopularsymbolsofHalloween.Theywereoriginallyfearedbecausepeoplebelievedthatthesecreaturescouldcommunicatewiththespiritsofthedead.
BlackcatsarealsosymbolsofHalloweenandhavereligiousoriginsaswell.Blackcatswereconsideredtobereincarnatedbeingswiththeabilitytodivinethefuture.DuringtheMiddleAgesitwasbelievedthatwitchescouldturnthemselvesintoblackcats.Thuswhensuchacatwasseen,itwasconsideredtobeawitchindisguise.Allthesearepopulartrick-or-treatcostumesanddecorationsforgreetingcardsandwindows.
BlackisoneofthetraditionalHalloweencolors,probablybecauseHalloweenfestivalsandtraditionstookplaceatnight.
PumpkinsarealsoasymbolofHalloween.Thepumpkinisanorange-coloredsquash,andorangehasbecometheothertraditionalHalloweencolor.Carvingpumpkinsintojack-o'-lanternsisaHalloweencustomalsodatingbacktoIreland.AlegendgrewupaboutamannamedJackwhowassostingythathewasnotallowedintoheavenwhenhedied,becausehewasamiser.Hecouldn'tenterhelleitherbecausehehadplayedjokesonthedevil.Asaresult,JackhadtowalkontheearthwithhislanternuntilJudgementDay.SoJackandhislanternbecamethesymbolofalostordamnedsoul.ToscarethesesoulsawayonHalloween,theIrishpeoplecarvedscaryfacesoutofturnips,beetsorpotatoesrepresenting"JackoftheLantern,"orJack-o-lantern.WhentheIrishbroughttheircustomstotheUnitedStates,theycarvedfacesonpumpkinsbecauseintheautumntheyweremoreplentifulthanturnips.Todayjack-o-lanternsinthewindowsofahouseonHalloweennightletcostumedcchildrenknowthattherearegoodieswaitingiftheyknockandsay"TrickorTreat!"
HalloweenfirstcametoAmericawithearlysettlersfromCelticareasinEurope,suchasIrelandandScotland.ButotherAmericansettlerswithstrictreligiousbeliefs,includingthePuritansfromEngland,rejectedHalloween.ThearrivalofmanyIrishimmigrantsduringthe1800shelpedspreadHalloween'spopularity.
Butbythelate1800s,fewerpeoplebelievedinancientsuperstitionsofghostsandwitches.Halloweenbecamemoreaholidayforchildrentoreceivetreatsanddressincostume.