The tradition of dressing up for Halloween comes from multiple sources, and the origins are rather difficult to pinpoint to one location at one time. Chances are pretty good that it’s a combination of cultural traditions over the course of history that makes the holiday what it is today. The idea of people putting on Halloween costumes one night out of the year is certainly appealing. For many people, it’s the very top of the list for holidays, because dressing up is fun.
The origins are every bit as spooky as one would suspect from the popularity of horror costumes. That’s not a coincidence at all, because the time of the year is a traditional one for celebrating the dead in many places. In Mexico, the Dia de los Muertos celebrations are major events that last the better part of a week. The actual day isn’t spent dressing up like monsters, however, but is spent tending to the graves of family members who have passed, and holding a ceremonial meal in their honor.
The tradition is very similar to Samhain in Ireland, where the ancestors are revered, and for that matter, also finds a place in Poland with Forefather’s Eve . There’s something about the time of year, when the days start to get darker, and colder, and gathering together to remember the loved ones is a way of bringing in the winter.