Halloween (a shortening of All Hallows’ Evening), also known as Hallowe'en or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day. Unlike Day of the Dead celebrations, the Christian feast of All Hallows' Eve, according to some scholars, incorporates traditions from pagan harvest festivals and festivals honouring the dead, particularly the Celtic Samhain; other scholars maintain that the feast originated entirely independently of Samhain. Typical festive Halloween activities include trick-or-treating (also known as "guising"), attending costume parties, carving jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted attractions, playing pranks, telling scary stories, watching horror films, as well as the religious observances of praying, fasting and attending vigils or church services.

Halloween is an American horror franchise that consists of ten slasher films, novels, and comic books. The franchise focuses on the fictional character of Michael Myers who was committed to a sanitarium as a child for the murder of his older sister, Judith Myers. Fifteen years later, he escapes to stalk and kill the people of Haddonfield, Illinois while being chased by his former psychiatrist Dr. Sam Loomis. Michael's killings occur on the holiday of Halloween, on which all of the films primarily take place. The films collectively grossed over $366 million at the box-office worldwide. The original Halloween, released in 1978, was written by John Carpenter and Debra Hill, and directed by Carpenter. The sequels have had various writers and directors attached to them. Michael Myers is the antagonist in all of the films except Halloween III: Season of the Witch, the story of which has no direct connection to any other Halloween film in the series. Carpenter, who had a hand in writing the first sequel, has not had any direct involvement with the rest of the films. The film series is ranked fourth at the United States box office–in adjusted 2008 dollars–when compared to other American horror franchises. The first Halloween film is credited with beginning a long line of slasher films inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. The franchise began when the first novel appeared less than a year after the release of the first film, and then seven sequels have followed. In 2007, a remake of Halloween was produced, with a direct sequel released two years later.

Halloween [], von All Hallows’ Even (Allerheiligenabend), ist ein Fest am Vorabend von Allerheiligen in der Nacht vom 31. Oktober zum 1. November, das ursprünglich vor allem in Irland gefeiert wurde. Der Brauch wurde von irischen Auswanderern ab 1830 in die USA gebracht. Im Laufe der Zeit entwickelte sich Halloween neben Weihnachten und dem Thanksgiving-Fest zu einer der wichtigsten Feiern in den USA. Seit den 1990-er Jahren wird das Fest auch in Europa gefeiert. Die Herkunft und der Sinn des Festes sind unklar.

L’Halloween (au Canada, avec un déterminant) ou Halloween (sans article, forme utilisée en France) est une fête qui se déroule dans la nuit du 31 octobre au . Elle est fêtée principalement en Irlande, au Canada, en Grande-Bretagne et aux États-Unis. La principale tradition veut que les enfants se déguisent avec des costumes qui font peur (squelettes, sorcières, monstres, etc.) et aillent sonner aux portes en demandant aux adultes, souvent eux aussi déguisés, des bonbons, des fruits ou de l'argent en disant, dans les régions anglophones, Trick or treat! (Des bonbons ou un mauvais sort !) ou simplement Halloween!. D'autres activités incluent des bals masqués, le visionnement de films d'horreur, la visite de maisons « hantées », etc.

Halloween är en högtid som firas den 31 oktober. Halloween har sitt ursprung på Irland och delvis i Skottland. Via USA, dit många irländska emigranter kom under 1840-talets svält- och nödår. Den kom (genom hård marknadsföring av detaljhandeln) till Sverige i början av 1990-talet, men har inte fått större grepp i Europa. Man firar Halloween genom att klä ut sig i spökkostymer och gå runt bland grannar för att be om bus eller godis - liknande den påsktradition med påskkärringar som finns i Sverige. Firandet kan ses som etablerat och omsätter varje år cirka en miljard kronor i Sverige. Det finns dock en svensk opinion som anser att Halloweens införande i Sverige endast tjänar kommersiella syften och konkurrerar med den seriösare allhelgonahelgen.

Halloween, Hallowe'en – święto obchodzone nocą 31 października, najhuczniej w Stanach Zjednoczonych i Irlandii.