Halloween? or Hallowe'en (less commonly known as Allhalloween,All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve) is a celebration observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day. It begins the observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the departed.
Popular Halloween activities include trick-or-treating?? (or the related guising and souling), attending Halloween costume parties, carving pumpkins or turnips into jack-o'-lanterns?, lighting bonfires, apple? bobbing, divination games, playing pranks, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary? stories, and watching horror or Halloween-themed films?️. Some people practice the Christian religious observances of All Hallows' Eve, including attending church services and lighting candles on the graves of the dead, although it is a secular celebration for others. Some Christians historically abstained from meat on All Hallows' Eve, a tradition reflected in the eating of certain vegetarian foods on this vigil day, including apples, potato pancakes, and soul cakes.