actually, halloween has roots that extend far beyond its christian associations, evolving from ancient celtic pagan traditions over the centuries. the holiday originated with the festival of samhain, celebrated by the celts over 2,000 years ago in what is now ireland, the uk, and northern france. samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, a time when people believed the boundary between the living and the dead thinned, allowing spirits to roam freely. to ward off harmful spirits, the celts would light bonfires and wear costumes, a tradition that has echoes in modern halloween practices. when christianity spread into celtic lands, church leaders often adapted or repurposed local customs to ease the conversion process. in the 8th century, pope gregory iii designated november 1st as all saints day, aligning it closely with samhain, likely to encourage a shift from the pagan festival to a christian observance. the evening before, known as all hallows eve, eventually became halloween. however, the customs of costumes, lanterns, and recognition of the spirit world persisted within the adapted festival, linking halloween unmistakably to its pre-christian roots. as for "trick-or-treating," early versions existed in europe, including the medieval practice of "souling," where the poor would go door-to-door on hallowmas (november 1st) offering prayers for the deceased in exchange for food. when irish and scottish immigrants brought their halloween traditions to america in the 19th century, these older customs evolved into the modern practice of trick-or-treating. similarly, easter eggs are connected to pre-christian traditions as symbols of fertility and renewal, which were later integrated into christian easter celebrations to represent resurrection and new life. so, contrary to a post-hoc rationalization, halloween and other holiday traditions reflect centuries of cultural blending, not solely christian invention.
Russian Federation