• Adventure
  • Auto
  • Culture
  • Entertainment
  • Home & Garden
  • Money
  • Science
  • Tech
  • Video
  • Shows
  • Blogs
  • Quizzes
  • Games
  • Random Article
  • Geography
  • History
  • People
  • Home / 
  • Culture / 
  • People / 
  • Culture & Traditions / 
  • Holidays

by Tom Harris

MORE STUFF LIKE THIS:

Stuff to Blow Your Kid's Mind
Stuff to Blow Your Kid's Mind
The Worst Time Travel Movie Ever
The Worst Time Travel Movie Ever
Quiz: What do we owe to TV?
Quiz: What do we owe to TV?
10 Ways Television Has Changed the Way We Talk
10 Ways Television Has Changed the Way We Talk
  • Page
  • 8
    American Halloween Traditions
  • 9
    Halloween Controversies
  • 10
    The Love of Halloween
  • 11
    Lots More Information

    • Lots More Information

    Related HowStuffWorks Articles

    • Halloween Quiz­
    • How to Carve a­ Pumpkin
    • How to Throw a Halloween Party
    • Costumes 101
    • How often does Halloween candy tampering really happen?
    • What is candy corn and how is it made?
    • How Urban Legends Work
    • How Nostradamus Works
    • How Witchcraft Works
    • How Vampires Work
    • How Bats Work
    • How Chupacabras Work
    • How Bigfoot Works
    • How Black Lights Work
    • How Light Sticks Work

    More Great Links

    • Planet Green Halloween Guide
    • Halloween Hall
    • Halloween Central
    • HalloweenMagazine.com
    • A History of Horror
    Print
    Cite This!
    Close 
    Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks article:

    Harris, Tom.  "How Halloween Works"  23 October 2000.  HowStuffWorks.com. <http://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/holidays/halloween.htm>  26 May 2012.
    Cite
    Feedback
  • Page
  • 4
    Christian Roots: All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day
  • 5
    Trick-or-Treating
  • 6
    Jack-o'-Lanterns
  • 7
    Bobbing for Apples
  • 8
    American Halloween Traditions
  • 9
    Halloween Controversies
  • 10
    The Love of Halloween
  • 11
    Lots More Information

    • More Great Links

    Top 5 Ways to Get Smarter
    Top 5 Ways to Get Smarter
    The Ultimate Kissing Quiz
    The Ultimate Kissing Quiz
    The Ultimate Stuff Mom Never Told You Fan Quiz
    The Ultimate Stuff Mom Never Told You Fan Quiz
    The Ultimate Mafia Quiz
    The Ultimate Mafia Quiz
    10 Largest Diamond Heists
    10 Largest Diamond Heists
    Watch videos about serial killers >>

    You Might Also Like

    What's the history of polygamy in North America?

    While mainstream LDS Mormons haven't publicly advocated polygamy in more than a century, fundamentalist break-off sects thrive throughout North America. How, if plural marriage is illegal, are tens of thousands of people marrying more than one spouse?

    How Puerto Rican Traditions Work

    As one of the first European colonies in the New World, Puerto Rico has a rich and storied history. What are some of the country's notable traditions?

    Popular Articles

    • How Yoga Works
    • Tai Chi
    • How Motherhood Works
    • Most Watched
    • Most Read

    • Most Watched

      • Stuff to Blow Your Kid's Mind
      • Stuff They Don't Want You to Know
      • The Science of Sex Appeal
      • Serial Killers
      • The Stuff of Genius

    • Most Read

      • Upload your best pics to win an Apple iPad!
      • Top 5 Ways to Get Smarter
      • Quiz: Are you a true nerd?
      • 10 Completely Unrealistic TV Relationships
      • 10 of the World’s Most Infamous Cults

    Don't Miss

    The Worst Time Travel Movie Ever
    The Worst Time Travel Movie Ever
    The most mind-blowing pic wins an iPad!
    The most mind-blowing pic wins an iPad!
    Stuff They Don't Want You to Know
    Stuff They Don't Want You to Know

    CHECK OUT OUR PODCASTS

    STUFF NATION NEWSLETTER THE HOW BEHIND TODAY'S NEWS
    HOWSTUFFWORKS
    • Adventure
    • Auto
    • Culture
    • Entertainment
    • Health
    • Home & Garden
    • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Science
    • Tech
    MORE STUFF
    • Blogs
    • Games
    • HSW Tools
    • RSS
    • Maps
    • Podcasts
    • Quizzes
    • Newsletters
    • Video
    OUR WEBSITES
    • Animal Planet
    • Consumer Guide Auto
    • Consumer Guide Products
    • Discovery Channel
    • Discovery Fit & Health
    • HSW Brazil
    • HSW China HowStuffWorks China
    • Investigation Discovery
    • Oprah Winfrey Network
    • Planet Green
    • Science Channel
    • TLC
    • Discovery Education
    • Store
    CUSTOMER SERVICE
    • Advertising
    • Contact Us
    • Help
    CORPORATE
    • About Us
    • Careers @ Discovery
    • Privacy Policy
    • Visitor Agreement
    TAKE US WITH YOU
    FOLLOW US
    © 1998-2012 HowStuffWorks, Inc