The History of Halloween in Canada

Ah, fall – the season of pumpkin spice lattes, crisp leaves, and… ghosts. As you stock up on candy and carve Jack-O’-Lanterns with your family and friends, you might start wondering why we started celebrating Hallowe’en in the first place.  

The real story behind Hallowe’en may surprise you. From its ancient Celtic roots to its modern glow-ups – viral costumes, haunted attractions, and candy empires – this is the fascinating history and evolution of your favourite spooky celebration, told from a uniquely Canadian perspective. 

Trust us, this one’s a treat.

When Did People Start Celebrating Hallowe’en?

The origins of Hallowe’en can be traced back to an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain (pronounced sah-win, if you were wondering), first celebrated in regions that are now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Northern France. The festival marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter – a transition from light to dark that Canadians can certainly relate to. 

According to legend, the boundary between the living and the dead blurred on the night before Samhain, allowing spirits to cross over. To blend in with the “wandering spirits”, people wore animal skulls, antlers, and furs, and gathered around massive bonfires (then known as “bone fires”), sometimes burning wicker effigies filled with symbolic offerings (and sometimes people!). 

People also carved turnips into lanterns to ward off spirits – a tradition that later evolved into the pumpkin Jack-O’-Lanterns we know today – mostly because the North American settlers couldn’t find turnips in the new world. 

Centuries later, Irish and Scottish immigrants carried these customs to North America, where they mixed with new influences to become the Hallowe’en we celebrate today.

Where Does the Word ‘Hallowe’en’ Come From? 

The word ‘Hallowe’en’ is a contraction of the phrase ‘All Hallows Eve,’ which marked the evening before All Hallows’ Day (also known as All Saints’ Day). Pope Boniface IV established All Saints’ Day in the 7th century. It was celebrated on November 1, which means All Hallows’ Eve landed on October 31.   

While these holidays were celebrated by the Catholic faith, historians suggest that All Hallows’ Eve absorbed many elements of the festival Samhain. Ultimately, this became the secular holiday we know as Hallowe’en.

When Did Trick or Treating Start in Canada?

The idea of going door to door for treats on Hallowe’en isn’t new – it dates back centuries to “souling” and “guising” in the British Isles, when people dressed in costume and performed songs or poems in exchange for food. 

When the settlers brought this fun tradition to the Americas in the 1800s, Canadian kids added their own twist – playful pranks and rhymes instead of prayers. The phrase “trick or treat” first appeared in a 1927 Alberta newspaper, describing children visiting homes in costume and asking for sweets. 

By the 1950s, Hallowe’en had gone mainstream across the country, thanks to suburban growth and, of course, new candy empires. What started as a night of folklore and mischief became a global tradition built of sugar and imagination. 

And speaking of candy… have you ever wondered where it all comes from?

Where Your Costumes and Candy Really Come From

Long before fun-sized chocolate bars, the “treats” of Hallowe’en were homemade – apples, nuts, and bits of bread offered to neighbours or to wandering “souls”. As the tradition crossed oceans and grew alongside the industrial age, those simple offerings transformed into mass-produced candy wrapped in foil and shipped across the globe. 

Today, every miniature chocolate bar and decorative plastic pumpkin travels through a vast network of factories, freighters, and delivery routes that begin months before October. 

The same goes for the costumes – once stitched from old clothes and animal hides, now designed, manufactured, and shipped worldwide by a global network of logistics, distribution and warehousing experts (the supply chain) for one night of make-believe. 

What was once a local exchange between neighbours has become a global operation that still delivers the same thing it always has: a moment of connection, a shared thrill, and something sweet to look forward to.

Behind the Screams: How Canada Brings Hallowe’en to Life

As Hallowe’en grew from small community gatherings into a global celebration, the way we experience it changed, too. The holiday isn’t just about costumes and candy anymore – it’s about atmosphere, production, and experience. 

Across Canada, it takes months to build the haunted houses, themed pop-ups, and festivals that define modern Hallowe’en. From food service and lighting design to ticketing and live performances, teams of hospitality and event professionals turn ordinary spaces into something extraordinary for a few thrilling nights each year. 

In Alberta, attractions like Calgary’s ScreamFest and Edmonton’s Deadmonton Haunted House showcase the precision and planning behind every scare. In Manitoba, spooky events at The Forks and FortWhyte Alive show how hospitality teams strategically blend storytelling, safety, and comfort into family-friendly experiences that keep crowds coming back for more. 

Behind every fog machine and flickering lantern is a network of people who bring the season to life – proof that Hallowe’en magic is as much about human imagination and hospitality as it is about ghosts and ghouls.

Tricks, Treats, and TikToks: Hallowe’en in the Digital Age

Hallowe’en has always been about transformation – from ancient disguises to turnip lanterns to store-bought costumes and glowing Jack-O’-Lanterns. But in the 21^st century, the stage has moved online. 

Today, thanks to the growth of digital marketing, Hallowe’en lives as much on social media feeds as front porches. Hashtag challenges, makeup tutorials, and DIY costume reveals dominate platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where a clever post can reach millions overnight. Even brands now join in the fun, turning spooky season into a showcase of creativity. 

Take this Hallowe’en video by Sundance College, for example, which uses the style of a haunted house to play on modern career fears like “no growth opportunities” and “low salaries”. It’s a smart example of how creative teams use humour, atmosphere, and storytelling to connect with audiences.

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A post shared by Sundance College (@sundancecollege)

Social media campaigns like this are the latest form of the same tradition – people finding new ways to share a scare, swap stories, and feel part of something bigger.

Hallowe’en Traditions You Can Experience Today

For all its digital reinventions and haunted attractions, Hallowe’en is still anchored in the small traditions that tie every generation together. 

Pumpkin Carving remains a national staple – from simple grins to elaborate designs worthy of an ancient offering. What began as carved turnips now fills porches and social feeds alike, powered by crates of bright orange pumpkins that seem to appear overnight each October. 

In Alberta, events like Pumpkins After Dark in Calgary and Edmonton turn carving into a spectacle, with thousands of glowing designs lighting up the night trails. And in Manitoba, the annual Great Pumpkin Commonwealth weigh-offs celebrate the giants themselves – pumpkins big enough to need a forklift! 

Trick-or-treating keeps neighbourhoods buzzing each October 31, with porch lights flickering like beacons for ghosts, witches, and superheroes. Candy aisles and costume racks fill up across the country, stocked by a massive seasonal supply chain that quietly fuels every sugar rush and last-minute vampire cape. 

Haunted houses and community gatherings turn the familiar into the fantastical: restaurants transform into haunted pop-ups, corn mazes double as scream fests, and somewhere down your street there’s probably an eight-foot skeleton with glowing eyes guarding someone’s front yard. In Ontario and BC, full-scale attractions like Fear Farm in Ayr and Cougar Creek’s House of Horrors in Surrey take things even further by turning parks and farms into cinematic-level horror experiences that draw thousands every year. It’s the same impulse that drove bonfire nights centuries ago, just with better lighting. 

Modern twists on old traditions keep the celebrations evolving. Eco-minded families trade plastic decor for reusable props, local artisans craft handmade candles and masks, and online creators remix it all into shareable moments that keep Hallowe’en evolving into the modern age.

The Real Magic of Hallowe’en

After thousands of years, Hallowe’en still refuses to stay in one form – and that’s exactly what makes it so enduring. From sacred bonfires to giant pumpkin-offs, and from whispered legends to viral videos, it’s a night that keeps reinventing itself with every generation. 

Maybe that’s the real magic of Hallowe’en: the way creativity connects people – across time, across screens, and across neighbourhoods – to share in something that’s both ancient and entirely new. 

At Sundance College, we know that same creative spark drives every field, from hospitality to digital storytelling to supply chain innovation. 

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to bring the magic of Hallowe’en  to life – to design unforgettable experiences, move products that fill every shelf, or craft the stories that spark people’s imagination – maybe a career in hospitality, supply chain management, or digital marketing is where you belong. 

Find out how to get started in any of these industries:
How to Become a Hospitality Business Manager
How to Become a Supply Chain Technician
How to Become a Social Media Manager

Frequently Asked Questions

• What does the word “Hallowe’en” mean and where did it come from?

  The word Hallowe’en comes from “All Hallows’ Eve,” the night before All Saints’ Day, which merged centuries ago with older Celtic Samhain traditions celebrating the shift from light to dark.

• What are the most famous haunted places in Canada and their stories?

  Canada’s best-known haunted spots include the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Ottawa’s Bytown Museum, and Winnipeg’s Fort Garry Hotel – each said to host restless spirits tied to their long and often eerie histories.

• What Hallowe’en traditions can I experience this year?

  Canadians celebrate with pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, haunted house attractions, and large-scale light shows like Pumpkins After Dark in Calgary and Edmonton.

• Why do we celebrate Hallowe’en on October 31st specifically?

  Hallowe’en falls on October 31 because it originated from the Celtic festival of Samhain, marking the end of harvest and the night when the boundary between the living and the dead was believed to blur.

• What are some eco-friendly ways to celebrate Hallowe’en?

  Choose reusable décor, thrifted or DIY costumes, locally made treats, and biodegradable materials – small changes that keep spooky season fun without adding to waste.

• Why is Hallowe’en so popular among adults today?

  Adults embrace Hallowe’en for its creativity and nostalgia; a chance to relive childhood fun, showcase imagination, and enjoy social events that blend art, humour, and community.