Halloween originated in the Celtic lands, with strong roots in ancient Ireland. The festival Samhain, celebrated by the Celts, is widely regarded as the precursor to modern Halloween. Over time, Samhain customs—bonfires, costumes or disguises, and rituals to ward off spirits—merged with Christian observances like All Saints’ Day, shaping Halloween as we know it today. Key points about origins:

• Primary source region: Ireland (also associated with Scotland and parts of the broader Celtic world) [web results indicate Ireland as the classic birthplace of Halloween].

• Core concept: Samhain, the Celtic New Year, traditionally marked the boundary between the living and the dead, a time when spirits and supernatural beings were believed to be abroad.

• Transmission to other regions: Irish and Scottish immigrants carried Halloween customs to North America in the 19th century, where pumpkins became a common symbol and carving practice evolved from turnips to pumpkins in the US.

• Modern scope: While widely celebrated in many countries today, the origin story is tied most strongly to Ireland and its Celtic heritage, with later global diffusion shaping contemporary practices.

If you’d like, I can summarize the key sources or provide a concise timeline of how Halloween evolved from Samhain to the present day.