Halloween is related with lots of customs and traditions that involve fun activities. They evolved over the period of time and hold much importance.
 

• Bonfires:
  
  It was a custom in Northern Ireland that people used to perform ritualistic ceremonies and make sacrifices to appease gods. Even the Celts used to burn pieces of wood and throw the bones of the sacrificed animals in the flame. ‘Bonfire’ is derived from the word ‘bone fire’. According to the old belief it is said that the bonfires and sacrifices ensure the sun to shine brightly after the long, cold winter. The tradition continues even today.
  
   

• Jack O Lantern:
  
  Who can imagine Halloween without the famous Jack O’Latern? Carving Jack O' Lantern is a Halloween custom that dates back to ancient Ireland, although the first Jack-o-Lanterns were made of turnips, beets or even hollowed out potatoes, not pumpkins. The large orange squashes didn't come into prominence until Irish immigrants settled in the United States, where pumpkins were cheaper and more plentiful than turnips. There is a story behind this popular art. It is about an Irish drunk man named Jack. After his death neither God nor the Devil accepted him. Hence, he roams around for a place where he can rest. To keep him warm he only had a candle placed in a turnip. According to the legend, it says:
  
  On a Halloween’s night Jack, an Irish devious drunkard happened to meet the Devil in a pub. Jack was so drunk that he was about to fall in hand of the Devil but had a narrow escape. He offered his soul in exchange of a drink and the Devil turned himself into a six pence, quickly, Jack puts him in his purse where he had a silver cross. Later, Jack only let the Devil go when he promised that he won’t claim Jack’s soul for the next 10 years.
  
  After ten years, the Devil again came back to get Jack’s soul. Jack had an instantaneous idea. He asked the Devil to fetch him an apple from the nearby tree. As the Devil jumped to get him an apple Jack, promptly carved a cross with his knife on the apple tree which made the Devil to hang in between. Jack then again made the Devil to promise not to take his soul ever again. The devil agreed.
  
  Later, when Jack died, he was denied admission to the Heaven because of his deceitful acts when he was alive and drinking habit. So, Jack went to the Hell but the Devil did not take his soul as it was promised and asked Jack to return to the place where he came from. Jack knew the roads were windy and dark so asked Devil to provide him with a light so that he can find his way. The Devil threw a piece of charcoal from the hell and Jack put it in the turnip that he was eating. Till then, Jack wanders in darkness with his lantern waiting for the “Judgment Day” and he is remembered as a symbol of a damned soul.
  
   

• Trick or Treat:
  
  This custom is prevailing since the ancient times and it has various origins. The Druids used to believe that during this time of the year the dead comes to life and create destruction and panic to the humankinds. Hence, to please them, people used to give them foods.
  
  According to the Irish traditions, the farmers used to visit houses to collect money, breadcakes, cheese, fruits, eggs, butter etc to prepare the festival of St. Columb Kill.
  
  In the UK, the poor used to go begging and the housewives used give them special treats known as "soulcakes". This was called "going a-souling", and the "soulers" would promise to say a prayer for the dead.
  
  With time, the custom changed and the town's children pretended to be the beggars. They visited the houses and were given apples, buns, and money.
  
  The children would shout by saying:
  
   "Trick or Treat!"
  
  Or
  
  "Jingle bells,
  Batman smells,
  Robin laid an egg.
  Trick or Treat!”
  
   

• Apple Bobbing:
  
  Since the ancient times, apples are associated with fertility and love. When the Celts were taken by the Roman Empire, many of the Roman rituals the Celts started to follow and one among them is the worship of the goddess of harvest named, Pomona and apple was considered as the sacred fruit for the goddess. Since then, Apple bobbing or bobbing for apples started that got passed on to the Christianity. In Scotland the game is known as “dooking”, in Ireland it is called “Snap Apple” and in Newfoundland and Labrador, people call Halloween as Snap Apple Night.
  
  Mostly popular among the children, it is a game of picking apples with teeth floating on water without cheating; people even tie the hands. In some parts of the world it is believed that the person who bites the apple first in the group is going to marry first.
  
  Another popular belief says that if girls place the apples that they bobbed under their pillows will dream of their future lover.
  
   

• Pumpkin Patch:
  
  Pumpkin carving became synonymous with Halloween. Glowing jack-o-lanterns, carved from turnips or gourds, were set on porches and in windows to welcome deceased loved ones, as well as to act as a protection against evil spirits. Before, burning lumps of coal were used inside as a source of light, later it got replaced by candles.