Halloween has been celebrated in one form or another for over 2,000 years – it dates to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which was celebrated on October 31 with bonfires outside and hearth fires in homes left to burn out as the harvest was gathered. That date was the official year-end, with the new year beginning on November 1.

On Samhain, it was believed that the barriers between the living world and the netherworld weakened, allowing interaction with the dead. Costumes were often worn as disguises, to confuse evil spirits which might be hunting for you.

The word Halloween itself descends to us from Scottish tradition, as a contraction of All Hallows Eve, following Pope Gregory III’s dedication of November 1 as All Saints Day in the 8th century AD (though the original institution of All Saints Day, which was initially May 13, is credited to Pope Boniface IV and dates to the early 7th century AD).

But wherever it comes from, there is no better place to celebrate tradition, history, and the ghostly world than New Orleans. In 2022, Travel & Leisure Magazine honored New Orleans among the “13 Best Places to Celebrate Halloween.” New Orleans has everything you need for spooky fun – we have ghostly tours, haunted hotels, bars and mansions, the Krewe of Boo parade, and festivities appropriate for all ages from mid-October on through the day itself.

And you know we love to decorate – and are great at it!

We hope you and your families go all out for it and have a blast! But when trick-or-treating, be careful and aware. Not all the ghouls out there are friendly.

Wishing you all a safe spooky holiday!

What are your ghostly plans for today? Please click here to email me directly – it might provide inspiration for future Halloweens.

Until next time –

Peace,

Eric