Trick or treat wolverines! Halloween crept right around the corner this year, and it is time we remember why we dress up in the first place, and how Halloween compares to the Mexican holiday Dia de Los Muertos.

Halloween, originally Hallows Eve, originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. Samhain was a pagan festival to welcome harvest and help escort the next season into place.  People at this festival would wear costumes and light huge bonfires to ward off any ghosts.

At the time, this season was associated with death due to the cold harsh weather. October 31 was when they believed the worlds between living and dead broke, and the two were able to collide on Earth. 

Halloween is extremely similar to Dia de Los Muertos, a holiday celebrated in Mexican culture. While Halloween focuses more on darkness, candy, and costumes, Dia de Los Muertos celebrates the afterlife and is a day of remembrance of the dead. This festival allows everyone to honor their deceased loved ones and is a staple in Mexican culture.

In American culture, Halloween is the one day a year everyone has the creative freedom to dress up as whatever character or creature they want—as well as an excuse to get together with friends and celebrate the spooky holiday.