Trick or Treat? The World Celebrates Halloween Day

Published November 1st, 2020 - 08:17 GMT

Halloween is originally a celebration marked in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day, in which people remember the dead, including saints, martyrs, and all the faithful departed.

However, Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome in honor of all Christian martyrs, and the Catholic feast of All Martyrs Day was established in the Western church. Pope Gregory III later expanded the festival to include all saints as well as all martyrs, and moved the observance from May 13 to November 1.

After that, Halloween festivities became unique for telling ghost stories and mischief-making of all kinds as by the middle of the 19th century, annual autumn festivities were common.

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People pose for a photo booth picture at the "Halloween Driving Howl" event in Alhambra, California, on October 31, 2020. The city of Alhambra is holding several social distancing Halloween events as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to worsen across much of the nation. DAVID MCNEW / AFP

A woman in Halloween costume is seen in Greenwich Village on Halloween night in Manhattan on October 31, 2020, in New York City. Kena Betancur / AFP

People wear costumes on October 31, 2020 in New York City. Many Halloween events have been canceled or adjusted with additional safety measures due to the ongoing coronavirus. Arturo Holmes/Getty Images/AFP

An Upper East Side home is decorated with skeletons for Halloween on October 31, 2020 in New York City. Many Halloween events have been canceled or adjusted with additional safety measures due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Cindy Ord/Getty Images/AFP

An Upper East Side home is decorated with a Grim Reaper skeleton for Halloween on October 31, 2020 in New York City. Many Halloween events have been canceled or adjusted with additional safety measures due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Cindy Ord/Getty Images/AFP

A zombie figure is displayed outside of Madame Tussauds for Halloween on October 31, 2020 in New York City. Many Halloween events have been canceled or adjusted with additional safety measures due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Cindy Ord/Getty Images/AFP

A child in costume for Halloween in Woodlawn Heights on October 31, 2020 in New York City. The CDC shared on their website alternative ways to still celebrate the holiday while being safe. David Dee Delgado/Getty Images/AFP

Costumed revelers take a selfi on Halloween in Salem, Massachusetts on October 31, 2020. Salem canceled all official Halloween events and called for the city wide shutdown of all businesses at 20h00EDT (24H00GMT) in an effort to control the spread of Covid-19 and detour tourist from visiting Salem, a favorite of Halloween fans. Joseph Prezioso / AFP

Costumed revelers walk the city streets on Halloween in Salem, Massachusetts, on October 31, 2020. Salem canceled all official Halloween events and called for the city wide shutdown of all businesses at 20h00EDT (24H00GMT) in an effort to control the spread of Covid-19 and detour tourist from visiting Salem, a favorite of Halloween fans. Joseph Prezioso / AFP

The window of a home is decorated for Halloween in east London on October 31, 2020. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP

Alessandro Russo rides his "flying broom" on Halloween at Praca da Liberdade square, at Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on October 31, 2020. Russo developed a broom inspired by Harry Potter and the model is coupled to an electric unicycle and it is possible to run it at a speed of up to 60 km/h. DOUGLAS MAGNO / AFP

People pose for a photo booth picture at the "Halloween Driving Howl" event in Alhambra, California, on October 31, 2020. The city of Alhambra is holding several social distancing Halloween events as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to worsen across much of the nation. DAVID MCNEW / AFP
A woman in Halloween costume is seen in Greenwich Village on Halloween night in Manhattan on October 31, 2020, in New York City. Kena Betancur / AFP
People wear costumes on October 31, 2020 in New York City. Many Halloween events have been canceled or adjusted with additional safety measures due to the ongoing coronavirus. Arturo Holmes/Getty Images/AFP
An Upper East Side home is decorated with skeletons for Halloween on October 31, 2020 in New York City. Many Halloween events have been canceled or adjusted with additional safety measures due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Cindy Ord/Getty Images/AFP
An Upper East Side home is decorated with a Grim Reaper skeleton for Halloween on October 31, 2020 in New York City. Many Halloween events have been canceled or adjusted with additional safety measures due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Cindy Ord/Getty Images/AFP
A zombie figure is displayed outside of Madame Tussauds for Halloween on October 31, 2020 in New York City. Many Halloween events have been canceled or adjusted with additional safety measures due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Cindy Ord/Getty Images/AFP
A child in costume for Halloween in Woodlawn Heights on October 31, 2020 in New York City. The CDC shared on their website alternative ways to still celebrate the holiday while being safe. David Dee Delgado/Getty Images/AFP
Costumed revelers take a selfi on Halloween in Salem, Massachusetts on October 31, 2020. Salem canceled all official Halloween events and called for the city wide shutdown of all businesses at 20h00EDT (24H00GMT) in an effort to control the spread of Covid-19 and detour tourist from visiting Salem, a favorite of Halloween fans. Joseph Prezioso / AFP
Costumed revelers walk the city streets on Halloween in Salem, Massachusetts, on October 31, 2020. Salem canceled all official Halloween events and called for the city wide shutdown of all businesses at 20h00EDT (24H00GMT) in an effort to control the spread of Covid-19 and detour tourist from visiting Salem, a favorite of Halloween fans. Joseph Prezioso / AFP
The window of a home is decorated for Halloween in east London on October 31, 2020. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP
Alessandro Russo rides his "flying broom" on Halloween at Praca da Liberdade square, at Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on October 31, 2020. Russo developed a broom inspired by Harry Potter and the model is coupled to an electric unicycle and it is possible to run it at a speed of up to 60 km/h. DOUGLAS MAGNO / AFP
People pose for a photo booth picture at the "Halloween Driving Howl" event in Alhambra, California, on October 31, 2020. The city of Alhambra is holding several social distancing Halloween events as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to worsen across much of the nation. DAVID MCNEW / AFP
People pose for a photo booth picture at the "Halloween Driving Howl" event in Alhambra, California, on October 31, 2020. The city of Alhambra is holding several social distancing Halloween events as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to worsen across much of the nation. DAVID MCNEW / AFP
A woman in Halloween costume is seen in Greenwich Village on Halloween night in Manhattan on October 31, 2020, in New York City. Kena Betancur / AFP
A woman in Halloween costume is seen in Greenwich Village on Halloween night in Manhattan on October 31, 2020, in New York City. Kena Betancur / AFP
People wear costumes on October 31, 2020 in New York City. Many Halloween events have been canceled or adjusted with additional safety measures due to the ongoing coronavirus. Arturo Holmes/Getty Images/AFP
People wear costumes on October 31, 2020 in New York City. Many Halloween events have been canceled or adjusted with additional safety measures due to the ongoing coronavirus. Arturo Holmes/Getty Images/AFP
An Upper East Side home is decorated with skeletons for Halloween on October 31, 2020 in New York City. Many Halloween events have been canceled or adjusted with additional safety measures due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Cindy Ord/Getty Images/AFP
An Upper East Side home is decorated with skeletons for Halloween on October 31, 2020 in New York City. Many Halloween events have been canceled or adjusted with additional safety measures due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Cindy Ord/Getty Images/AFP
An Upper East Side home is decorated with a Grim Reaper skeleton for Halloween on October 31, 2020 in New York City. Many Halloween events have been canceled or adjusted with additional safety measures due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Cindy Ord/Getty Images/AFP
An Upper East Side home is decorated with a Grim Reaper skeleton for Halloween on October 31, 2020 in New York City. Many Halloween events have been canceled or adjusted with additional safety measures due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Cindy Ord/Getty Images/AFP
A zombie figure is displayed outside of Madame Tussauds for Halloween on October 31, 2020 in New York City. Many Halloween events have been canceled or adjusted with additional safety measures due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Cindy Ord/Getty Images/AFP
A zombie figure is displayed outside of Madame Tussauds for Halloween on October 31, 2020 in New York City. Many Halloween events have been canceled or adjusted with additional safety measures due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Cindy Ord/Getty Images/AFP
A child in costume for Halloween in Woodlawn Heights on October 31, 2020 in New York City. The CDC shared on their website alternative ways to still celebrate the holiday while being safe. David Dee Delgado/Getty Images/AFP
A child in costume for Halloween in Woodlawn Heights on October 31, 2020 in New York City. The CDC shared on their website alternative ways to still celebrate the holiday while being safe. David Dee Delgado/Getty Images/AFP
Costumed revelers take a selfi on Halloween in Salem, Massachusetts on October 31, 2020. Salem canceled all official Halloween events and called for the city wide shutdown of all businesses at 20h00EDT (24H00GMT) in an effort to control the spread of Covid-19 and detour tourist from visiting Salem, a favorite of Halloween fans. Joseph Prezioso / AFP
Costumed revelers take a selfi on Halloween in Salem, Massachusetts on October 31, 2020. Salem canceled all official Halloween events and called for the city wide shutdown of all businesses at 20h00EDT (24H00GMT) in an effort to control the spread of Covid-19 and detour tourist from visiting Salem, a favorite of Halloween fans. Joseph Prezioso / AFP
Costumed revelers walk the city streets on Halloween in Salem, Massachusetts, on October 31, 2020. Salem canceled all official Halloween events and called for the city wide shutdown of all businesses at 20h00EDT (24H00GMT) in an effort to control the spread of Covid-19 and detour tourist from visiting Salem, a favorite of Halloween fans. Joseph Prezioso / AFP
Costumed revelers walk the city streets on Halloween in Salem, Massachusetts, on October 31, 2020. Salem canceled all official Halloween events and called for the city wide shutdown of all businesses at 20h00EDT (24H00GMT) in an effort to control the spread of Covid-19 and detour tourist from visiting Salem, a favorite of Halloween fans. Joseph Prezioso / AFP
The window of a home is decorated for Halloween in east London on October 31, 2020. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP
The window of a home is decorated for Halloween in east London on October 31, 2020. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP
Alessandro Russo rides his "flying broom" on Halloween at Praca da Liberdade square, at Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on October 31, 2020. Russo developed a broom inspired by Harry Potter and the model is coupled to an electric unicycle and it is possible to run it at a speed of up to 60 km/h. DOUGLAS MAGNO / AFP
Alessandro Russo rides his "flying broom" on Halloween at Praca da Liberdade square, at Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on October 31, 2020. Russo developed a broom inspired by Harry Potter and the model is coupled to an electric unicycle and it is possible to run it at a speed of up to 60 km/h. DOUGLAS MAGNO / AFP

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