Halloween in England

Thought to have evolved from Samhaim,(pronouced "Sarwin /Sow-en") , the Pagan Festival of 31st October - 2nd November.

The original All Hallow's Eve/ All Hallowtide in England was a day of joyful bell ringing, (similar to Christmas Eve or Easter Eve), in the Catholic Church Calendar, in advance of the sombre tolling of All Saints' Day on 1st November when prayers were made to the Saints, and All Soul's Day, on 2nd November, when prayers were made for the souls in pugatory, the place between death and Heaven/Hell.

The bell ringing was prohibited by Protestant Queen Elizabeth I, and the religious association waned in England.
Maybe that would have been the end of it, were it not for the Celts.

Some pagan traditions had survived into Medieval times, such as the Antrobus Horse Play in Cheshire, derived from age-old mumming plays where misrule was the rule and the performers would expect "Soul Cakes" as a reward.

Samhain is an ancient festival in Celtic lands, which literally means "Summer's End" in Irish Celtic / "Nos Galan / Winter's Eve" in Welsh , celebrated in the Celtic countries of Ireland, Scotland and Wales

At the turn of the year, where summer and winter meet the veil between the living and the dead is believed to thin, allowing for the transition of apparitions and ghosts, particularly those of the recently departed.

Scotland's traditions for Halloween crossed the border in to Northern England, including that of children in costumes making house visits carrying scary carved turnip lanterns.

Many of the Scottish traditions were revived in England when the Victorians fell in love with Scotland and Scottish traditions became popular, but it was the Celtic migrants, who took their traditions with them over to the USA, where they evolved and returned to British shores with a loud "Trick or Treat", the bright orange pumpkin replaced the humble turnip, and the Americanised Halloween returned.

Kinross, Scotland 2016

Witches joined the party after the infamous witch trials and from the 19th century were accepted as an integral part of Halloween.