What date is Halloween each year?

Halloween is always on October 31. It is the eve of All Saints' Day on November 1, which is where the name 'All Hallows' Evening' comes from.

What can I find on Halloween Countdown besides the countdown?

Costume ideas with what you'll need for each look, the history of Halloween from Samhain to trick-or-treating, party plans and spooky recipes, and practical safety tips for the night.

A glowing jack-o'-lantern before a haunted mansion under a harvest moon

October 31 · All Hallows' Eve

The witching hour approaches

Q: How many days until Halloween?

Halloween Countdown shows a live, real-time count of the days, hours, minutes and seconds left until October 31 (All Hallows' Eve), updating every second in your browser.

Countdown to All Hallows' Eve — October 31

How many days until Halloween?

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Explore costume ideas The history of Halloween

Your haunted handbook

Everything for All Hallows' Eve

Costume Ideas

Six eerie looks from easy ghosts to glowing skeletons, with what you'll need for each.

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History of Halloween

Trace the night from ancient Samhain bonfires to modern trick-or-treat.

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Party Plans

Haunted houses, costume contests, potion bars and dance-floor monster mashes.

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Safety Tips

Stay visible, inspect treats, and plan a safe route for a fright-free night.

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Countdown Clock

A dedicated live countdown to October 31 — down to the final second.

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Lore & Legend

Folktales, facts, and the myths behind the most magical night of the year.

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The clock is ticking

Don't let the night sneak up on you — track every second until the ghouls come out.

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Ancient roots

Halloween grew from Samhain, the Celtic festival marking summer's end, when spirits were said to walk the earth.

The name game

'Halloween' is short for 'All Hallows' Evening' — the night before All Hallows' Day on November 1.

Pumpkin power

Irish immigrants brought the jack-o'-lantern to America, swapping the original turnips for the easier-to-carve pumpkin.

Trick or treat

The phrase dates to the 1920s, but offering food for good fortune reaches back centuries into Samhain tradition.

Costume inspiration

Dress to distress

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👻Easy

Classic Ghost

Timeless & spooky

•An old white bedsheet
•Scissors for eye holes
•A pair of round sunglasses peeking through

🧙Medium

Wicked Witch

Cottage-core menace

•A wide-brimmed black hat
•A striped or black dress
•A broom (the dustier the better)
•Green face paint for that emerald glow

🎃Easy

Jack-O'-Lantern

Festive & friendly

•An orange top or tee
•A black marker triangle for eyes
•A cutout grin taped to your chest

✦The largest pumpkin ever grown weighed over 1,200 kg.✦Orange and black are the colors of Halloween — fire and darkness.✦Samhain bonfires were lit to ward off wandering spirits.✦A fear of Halloween is called 'samhainophobia'.✦Halloween is the second-largest commercial holiday after Christmas.