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　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Written by Tamanna Nangia Tamanna Nangia is Associate Editor, Encyclopaedia Britannica. She has over five years of experience in editorial processes, handling many different aspects of the publishing process: content development,... Tamanna Nangia Fact-checked by Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Oct. 23, 2025 •Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot Where Did Halloween Originate?, Halloween traces its origins to the festival of Samhain celebrated among the Celts of ancient Britain and Ireland. On the day corresponding to November 1 on contemporary calendars, the new year was believed to begin. That date was considered the beginning of the winter period when the herds were returned from pasture and land tenures were renewed. It was a commonly held belief that on the eve of Samhain the boundary...

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