Today, October 31, is All Hallows’ Eve. **What is it, exactly?** Here’s a brief history. It is the vigil of All Saints’ Day, a cherished Catholic observance that prepares the faithful to honor the Church Triumphant on November 1. Rooted in the ancient Christian practice of keeping holy vigils and shaped by the evangelization of Celtic lands, the holiday was designed to honor the saints, bringing God’s light over dark, ancient practices. It is not a pagan holiday. It is a Catholic one that pushed out the darkness and repurposed the day with light. It does not ignore or reject the reason the date was chosen; it embraces the truth that all people can be saved in Christ, as the Celts chose to be. It is not “worship” of saints. It is a celebration of their sacrifice to God and their good, selfless works in His name—a reminder to live more for God and less for ourselves. The evening invites prayer for suffering souls while anticipating the glory of the saints. Families attend Mass, light candles at graves, or offer “soul cakes” in memory of the dead, recalling the medieval custom of praying for departed loved ones. The tradition of giving soul cakes in exchange for prayers evolved into modern trick-or-treating. Jack-o’-lanterns—originally carved turnips or pumpkins used to ward off evil spirits—were adapted by Catholics to symbolize Christ’s light piercing the darkness of sin and death. Ancient traditions held that the veil between the living and the dead was thin, requiring protection from evil spirits. Catholics transformed this into a celebration honoring the sainted ones who have gone before us. Halloween is a Catholic threshold: a night to confront mortality with hope and to rejoice that “all hallows” await the faithful in the communion of saints.