How many days until Halloween?
A live countdown in your time zone. Bookmark it and check back any time.
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When is Halloween?
Halloween falls on 31 October every year. The live countdown above shows exactly how long is left in your time zone.
Halloween grew from the Celtic festival of Samhain and All Hallows' Eve, the night before All Saints' Day. Today it's best known for costumes, trick-or-treating and carved pumpkins.
Where Halloween comes from
Halloween grew out of the Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest and the start of winter. People believed the boundary between the living and the dead was thinnest that night, and lit bonfires and wore disguises. Later it became All Hallows' Eve, the night before the Christian feast of All Saints' Day on 1 November.
The first jack-o'-lanterns in Ireland and Scotland were carved from turnips. Irish and Scottish emigrants brought the custom to North America, where pumpkins were bigger and easier to carve.
Halloween is often confused with Mexico's Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) on 1 and 2 November, but they're different celebrations. Día de Muertos is a joyful remembrance of family members who have died, with altars, marigolds and favourite foods.
Trick-or-treating tips
- Pick costumes that are easy to see in, and add reflective tape or a torch for dark streets.
- Stick to houses with decorations or lights on, a widely understood sign they're happy to have visitors.
- Check treats before eating, especially for allergies.
- In Australia and New Zealand, where Halloween is still growing, many neighbourhoods coordinate in local community groups.
Questions people ask
Is Halloween always on 31 October?
Yes. The date never changes, though the day of the week does. Some towns move trick-or-treating to a nearby weekend evening.
How many days until Halloween?
The countdown above shows the exact number of days, hours, minutes and seconds.
When should I carve a pumpkin?
Carved pumpkins usually last about three to five days, so carving a few days before Halloween keeps them looking fresh.