The legend of ‘Halloween’ festival or ‘ghost wandering’ night

Halloween falls on October 31 every year and is a tradition celebrated in Western countries. In Thailand, it’s sometimes referred to as the “Ghost Festival.” When thinking of Halloween, many people picture dressing up as ghosts, spirits, or supernatural creatures.

On October 30th, Dusit Thani College’s Activities and Sports Department, in collaboration with the Student Council of Dusit Thani College, organized a Halloween event at Srinakarin Hall. To add color and fun to the celebration, a Thai ghost costume contest was held, with all participating students showing up in full spirit. The event also included a game to guess movie titles from photos and video clips. Overall, students enjoyed a night full of fun and food.

The word “Halloween” in English originates from “All Hallows’ Eve,” meaning “the day before All Saints’ Day” (where *hallow* means sacred). Halloween has evolved beyond just a celebration of saints; it has become an annual festival full of fun and color.

It’s believed that Halloween traces its origins back to the ancient Celtic festival of *Samhain* (pronounced “SAH-win”), typically held from October 31 to November 1. This festival marked the end of the harvest season, the beginning of the darker half of the year, and was also considered the Celtic New Year.

There is also a belief that during the Samhain festival, the barrier between the living world and the spirit world would fade, allowing spirits to cross over and mingle with the living. To protect themselves, people would wear ghostly costumes and masks, hoping to disguise themselves as malicious spirits to avoid harm. This tradition spread to other countries, eventually evolving into modern-day Halloween.

A key symbol of Halloween is the *Jack-o’-Lantern*, a carved pumpkin lantern. This tradition stems from an Irish folk tale about a man named *Stingy Jack*, who deceived the devil through various tricks. When Jack died, he was denied entry to both heaven and hell. Angered, the devil sent Jack off into the darkness with only a burning coal to light his way, which he placed inside a carved-out turnip (later replaced by pumpkins in America) to guide him.

Today, Halloween celebrations have become popular worldwide, with events focused on fun and enjoyment. Children often dress as ghosts or monsters to go *trick-or-treating*, while adults opt for costume parties to celebrate the holiday. Halloween-themed food and drinks prominently feature the holiday’s key colors—orange, black, and sometimes red (symbolizing blood!). Pumpkin-based treats, like pumpkin pie or pumpkin soup, are common, as are candy apples (apples coated in sugar) as a festive favorite.