Let's go back to the 5th century, B.C. Celtic Ireland for the answer. The Celtic new year was November 1st and it was thought that on new year's eve (October 31st) that everyone who had died in the previous year came back to look for a new body to inhabit! Apparently, this was their only way for an afterlife..
Of course the living, not wanting to be possessed needed a solution to this conundrum. They dressed up in outlandish and scary costumes and paraded around making as much noise a possible to frighten away the marauding spirits who were looking for bodies to possess..
And, what about Jack 'O Lanterns? Also and Irish tradition, though in Ireland they used root vegetables like turnips and potatoes (pumpkins are native to the Americas). This custom of hollowing them out, carving ghoulish images into them and placing a lighted candle inside was all in an effort to ward off evil spirits and especially the spirits who roamed the countryside on October 31st! Happy Halloween!
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