What do you know about Halloween? 

This is a celebration that takes place at the end of October, when people dress up in scary costumes, crave scary faces into pumpkins and children go from house to house asking for sweets and shouting “Trick or Treat”. 

But what lies behind all these traditions? Let's dig a little deeper and uncover the true story of Halloween. There is a common misconception that Halloween originated in America. But did you know that Halloween was born in Ireland? And it was the Irish who brought Halloween traditions to America, not the other way around. 

The roots of Halloween go back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the dark and cold winter. The Celts celebrated their New Year on the 1st of November. The night before, 31st of October, was traditionally known as the night when the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred, allowing ghosts and spirits to cross into the world of the living. To protect themselves from spirits, people lit huge bonfires and wore animal skins and masks. It is believed that they hoped it would prevent spirits from recognising them. 

Over the centuries these traditions evolved, gradually shaping Halloween into the celebration we know today.

But where did the tradition of carving pumpkins come from? 

The answer lies in an old Irish folk tale about Stingy Jack, a cunning blacksmith who managed to trick the Devil twice. As a punishment he was doomed to wander the world after his death, carrying a turnip lantern to light his way. This legend marked the beginning of Jack-o-Lantern tradition. Originally, people in Ireland carved frightening faces on turnip, potatoes or beets to ward off evil spirits. When Irish immigrants brought this tradition to North America in the 19th century, they discovered that pumpkins were larger and much easier to carve. And that’s how the humble Irish turnip eventually became the Halloween pumpkin we know today. 

Halloween is one of the most popular celebrations in Ireland with a variety of events, festivals and spooky activities taking place across the country. 

This autumn we invite families to enjoy the full Halloween experience in Sligo Park Hotel: Spooky Fairy Trail adventure, scary movie nights, fun float in the swimming pool and complimentary hot chocolate with cookies. The perfect mix of Halloween thrills and cosy autumn treats. 

Click here to view our kids activities this Halloween break in Sligo Park Hotel

And if you want to make the most of Halloween in Sligo this year, don’t miss Scare in the Park event organised by Sligo Folk Park on the 30th of October. Take a tour of the Haunted House, try to avoid the ghosts and discover the Ghost Village. Book online: https://sligofolkpark.com/2025/09/09/scare-in-the-park-are-you-brave-enough/

Did you know that Sligo has a connection with Dracula? Bram Stocker’s immortal novel may have been influenced by stories his mother told him about the cholera epidemic in Sligo in 1832. Want to discover more? Visit the Sligo Abbey from the 25th to the 31st of October and explore its Halloween events. Get ready for pumpkin hunts, ghosts, Dracula stories, traditions and the ancient festival of Samhain. All events are free! For more information, please, contact the Abbey directly: 071 914 6406, sligoabbey@opw.ie

Written by Kate Dorogina.