Seeing a spider on Halloween is a long-standing superstition with several common interpretations, most of which frame the spider as a sign from the spirit world or as a cue about luck and protection. Here are the main threads of meaning people often cite:

• Spirit presence and remembrance: Many traditions suggest that a spider appearing on Halloween could be the presence or visitation of a deceased loved one, watching over you or sending a gentle message from the other side. This interpretation sits alongside Halloween’s themes of spirits and the thinning veil between worlds.

• Good luck and protection: A widespread idea is that seeing a spider signals good luck, prosperity, or protection for you and your home. In some versions, letting the spider be rather than killing it is considered important for inviting positive outcomes. The spider’s web is also seen as a protective shield.

• Creativity and fate: The spider is seen as a weaver and creator, a reminder to consider what you are building in your life and how your own choices weave your future. This symbolism emphasizes personal agency and manifestation.

• Caution with fear or misfortune: Some folklore contrasts the above by noting that a black spider or a web above your bed might be associated with misfortune, or that stepping on a spider could bring rain, reflecting broader, sometimes contradictory, folk beliefs. As with many folk traditions, the exact meaning can vary by region and culture.

• Halloween-specific folklore in modern media: Contemporary posts and articles often summarize these ideas to explain why a spider on Halloween is considered either lucky, protective, or a sign of a departed loved one, while also acknowledging the broader Halloween atmosphere of spookiness.

If you’re encountering this in real life, you can respond in a way that matches your beliefs or comfort level. If the spider is inside your home, many people opt to gently relocate it outdoors rather than kill it, aligning with the luck/protection motif of many traditions. If you’re curious about a particular regional belief, I can look up more localized folklore and provide notes tailored to that tradition.