OCTOBER 7, 2026 | BOOMRZ NETWORK
Every October, the same thing happens. Porch lights glow orange, pumpkins appear on front steps,
and grown adults find themselves smiling at paper skeletons. Why does a night built around ghosts
and graveyards hold such a grip on us?
Where It Began
The roots reach back more than two thousand years to the Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked
the end of harvest and the start of winter. The Celts believed the boundary between the living and
the dead grew thin that night, so they lit bonfires and wore disguises to confuse wandering spirits.
Later, the Church set All Saints’ Day on November 1, and the evening before became All Hallows’
Eve, eventually shortened to Halloween. Irish and Scottish immigrants carried these customs to
America, where the old practices of guising and “souling” evolved into trick-or-treating.
Halloween lets us look at what frightens us and walk away laughing.
Why We Love to Be Scared
Psychologists sometimes call it recreational fear. Your heart pounds and your senses sharpen, yet
you know you are safe. Afterward comes relief, and often a warm bond with whoever stood beside
you. A costume adds another layer, giving us permission to try on a different self for an evening.
Beneath the fun there is something quietly honest, too: Halloween lets us face mortality on our own
terms, with humor instead of dread. At our stage of life, that is no small gift.
The Neighborhood Night
Few occasions pull neighbors off the couch and onto the sidewalk. Doors open, strangers trade
compliments on costumes, and children practice saying thank you to people they barely know. That
kind of casual contact builds trust, the glue of any community. Many of us remember roaming the
block with a pillowcase and a homemade costume, a freedom today’s kids rarely know. Passing the
tradition to grandchildren, or simply handing out candy at the door, keeps a thread running between
generations.
Join the Conversation
What do you remember most about Halloween growing up? Did you have a favorite costume, a
spooky story, or a neighbor who handed out full-size candy bars? Do you still celebrate today?
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below. We would love to hear from you.
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