Halloween, also called “Children’s Day” for some, is a holiday celebrated on October 31st in most places around the world. This word come from the word All Hallow’s Eve, which means “All Saint’s Day” and it’s usually associated with various symbols like jack-o'-lanterns, ghosts, skeletons, and even candies! Each country has its own traditions, such as trick or treating or dressing up as a certain character; however, they all have in common one thing: where it came from. Halloween is believed to have come from and ancient Celtic festival called “Samhain” where people used to light up bonfires and dress up in costumes to ward off themselves and their community from ghosts. But if it all started in Europe, why do we celebrate this holiday in Colombia?

Back in 1845, the Celts, mainly those in Ireland, were facing a period of great hunger known as “The Great Famine”. Therefore, many of them decided to move to America in order to look for a better quality of life. When the Celts came over, they brought their culture, including the Samhain festival, and each country adapted it to its preferences. Although people started immigrating in the 1840’s, Halloween became noticeable in Colombia many years later. In our country, it all began in the 1960’s when kids from the “elite classes” from the country started dressing up to commemorate this holiday. Thanks to media the word spread out, and by the end of the 1970’s it became really popular in the main cities like Bogota. Nowadays, Halloween is a beloved holiday that allows the 71% of Colombians that celebrate it to have fun and express themselves.