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It's finally the spookiest day of the year – Halloween – and it's a time for loads of candy.
Those who can't handle all things sweet and sugary might use this creepy day to just dress up as a famous character.
But what most people don't realise is the reason we celebrate Halloween.
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Sadly it's not to load up on sweets or flaunt our crazy outfits, there's an another reason behind it all.
According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, Halloween has been around for more than a thousand years.
It began as a religious festival which morphed over the centuries into a fun holiday for dressing up and eating candy.
However, the origins of the traditions can be traced back to an ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain.
The pagan celebration was held on what would be November 1 in modern calendars.
It was thought on Samhain, the souls of the dead returned to their homes.
Those observing the festival would dress up in costumes and light bonfires to ward off the spirits.
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This led to the association with common Halloween tropes like ghosts, goblins and witches.
In the 7th century, Pope Boniface IV created All Saints Day which was celebrated on May 13.
But in the 8th century, Pope Gregory III moved All Saints Day to November 1.
It is believed this change was done to provide a Christian alternative to Samhain.
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The day before the newly moved festival became known as All Hallows Eve or Halloween.
While the tradition began in Celtic regions of the UK, Ireland and France, it quickly spread across the globe.
The first colonists in New England were forbidden from celebrating it but their religion, although it became popular in Southern colonies.
By the 19th century, Halloween traditions were imported by Irish immigrants fleeing the Potato Famine, while autumnal harvest festival elements were also incorporated.
Then trick or treating became popular in the US in the early 1900s as a continuation of the Celtic tradition of "guising".
A person would dress in a costume and tell a joke, recite a poem or perform some other trick in exchange for fruit or another treat.
Trick or treating became one of the most popular Halloween activities by the 1950s and now Halloween is known as a big commercial holiday.
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