何为万圣节第一种关于万圣节由来的传说有许多版本，最普遍的认为，那是源于基督诞生前的古西欧国家，主要包括爱尔兰、苏格兰和威尔士，这几处的古西欧人叫德鲁伊特人。德鲁伊特的新年在十一月一日，新年前夜，德鲁伊特人让年轻人集队，戴着各种怪异面具，拎着刻好的萝卜灯（南瓜灯系后期习俗，古西欧最早没有南瓜），他们游走于村落间。这在当时实则为一种秋收的庆典；也有说是“鬼节”，传说当年死去的人，灵魂会在万圣节的前夜造访人世，据说人们应该让造访的鬼魂看到圆满的收成并对鬼魂呈现出丰盛的款待。所有篝火及灯火，一来为了吓走鬼魂，同时也为鬼魂照亮路线，引导其回归。
在中世纪的中欧，曾有过基督教摧毁异教徒的历史。可是新年夜前的祭祀庆典从未真正消除，不过以巫术的形式出现。这也就是为什么我们现在的万圣节里，还留有巫婆的扫帚、黑猫、咒语等痕迹。第二种两千多年前，欧洲的天主教会把１１月１日定为“天下圣徒之日” (ALL HALLOWS DAY) 。“HALLOW” 即圣徒之意。传说自公元前五百年，居住在爱尔兰、苏格兰等地的凯尔特人 (CELTS)把这节日往前移了一天，即10月31日。他们认为该日是夏天正式结束的日子，也就是新年伊始，严酷的冬季开始的一天。那时人们相信，故人的亡魂会在这一天回到故居地在活人身上找寻生灵，借此再生，而且这是人在死后能获得再生的唯一希望。而活着的人则惧怕死魂来夺生，于是人们就在这一天熄掉炉火、烛光，让死魂无法找寻活人，又把自己打扮成妖魔鬼怪把死人之魂灵吓走。之后，他们又会把火种烛光重新燃起，开始新的一年的生活。传说那时凯尔特人部落还有在10月31日把活人杀死用以祭奠死人的习俗。
到了公元1世纪，占领了凯尔特部落领地的罗马人也渐渐接受了万圣节习俗，但从此废止了烧活人祭死人的野蛮做法。罗马人庆祝丰收的节日与凯尔特人仪式结合，戴着可怕的面具，打扮成动物或鬼怪，则是为了赶走在他们四周游荡的妖魔。这也就是今天全球大部分人以古灵精怪的打扮，来庆祝万圣节的由来。时间流逝，万圣节的意义逐渐起了变化，变得积极快乐起来，喜庆的意味成了主流。死魂找替身返世的说法也渐渐被摒弃和忘却。到了今天，象征万圣节的形象、图画如巫婆、黑猫等，大都有友善可爱和滑稽的脸。第三种凯尔特人（Celtic）相信太阳神帮助他们种植农作物。但是，每年太阳神都会被一个名叫Samhain的邪恶力量攻击并被囚禁六个月。Samhain，还有两个称号，分别是“Lord of Dead（死亡领主）”以及“Prince of Darkness（暗黑王子）”，他带着寒冷以及黑暗的冬天来到凯尔特人的土地。
凯尔特人非常害怕10月31日的夜晚，因为他们觉得这晚，有一堆邪恶灵魂潜伏在任何地方。他们在家生起火来让那些邪恶灵魂离开他们的家（上一个没有翻译的段落有一句是说火焰可以把鬼魂吓走的。）他们相信是Samhain把死人叫出来的，他们还相信Samhain会把死人变为其他东西，好像猫。凯尔特人会装着可怕的伪装来把那群邪恶灵魂赶走。（这就是万圣节的原型）
后罗马占领了凯尔特人的土地，把罗马的节日和凯尔特人10月31日的Samhain祭典合在一起，就成了现在的万圣节。
万圣节歌谣歌谣一：I'm Jack-O'-Lantern with the great big grin.
我是笑口常开的南瓜灯
I'm Jack-O'-Lantern with the candle in.
肚子里有个蜡烛的南瓜灯
And woo~ went the wind.
风呼的一声过了
And out went the light.
蜡烛被吹熄了
And away went the witch on the Halloween night.
万圣夜的巫婆也走了歌谣二：Hello there！
Don’t be scared！ Con’t you see？
We want candy！Give us some！
We’ll have some fun.
And we’ll come back for another one！
Trick or treat Trick or treat
Give me something good to eat.
If you don’t， that’s okay.
We’ll come back another day.
Trick or treat Trick or treat
Give me something good to eat.
not too big， not too small.
Just the size of a bowling ball.
Trick or treat Trick or treat
Give me something good to eat.
Give me candy Give me cookies
Halloween is coming.
Trick or treat. 不给糖就捣蛋
Smell my feet. 闻闻我的脚
Give me something good to eat. 给我好吃的东西
Ghosts, witches, and goblins, too. 鬼、巫婆、小精灵
Are waiting in the dark for you. 正在黑暗中等着你
The witch is riding on a broomstick. 巫婆正骑在扫把上
She is warming up the big black kettle. 她正热着黑色的炉子
She is cooking small toads and spiders. 她正在煮蟾蜍和蜘蛛
She is feeding all the ghosts and goblins. 她正在喂所有的鬼和小精灵
We are all scared to death. 我们全部怕的要死
Trick or treat! Trick or treat! 不给糖就捣蛋、不给糖就捣蛋
Give me something good to eat! 给我好吃的东西
If you don’t, I don’t care. 如果你不给，没关系
I’ll steal your underwear. 我会偷走你的内衣裤
Trick or treat! Trick or treat! 不给糖就捣蛋、不给糖就捣蛋
I want something good to eat! 我要好吃的东西
Trick or treat! Trick or treat! 不给糖就捣蛋、不给糖就捣蛋
Give me something nice and sweet. 给我好吃的东西
Give me candy and an apple, too. 给我糖果和苹果
And I won’t play a trick a trick on you! 这样我就不会捉弄你万圣节最著名的歌曲This Is Halloween
Panic! At The Disco - This Is Halloween
Boys and girls of every age
Wouldn't you like to see something strange?
[SIAMESE SHADOW]
Come with us and you will see
This, our town of Halloween
[PUMPKIN PATCH CHORUS]
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Pumpkins scream in the dead of night
[GHOSTS]
This is Halloween, everybody make a scene
Trick or treat till the neighbors gonna die of fright
It's our town, everybody screm
In this town of Halloween
[CREATURE UNDER THE BED]
I am the one hiding under your bed
Teeth ground sharp and eyes glowing red
[MAN UNDER THE STAIRS]
I am the one hiding under yours stairs
Fingers like snakes and spiders in my hair
[CORPSE CHORUS]
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
[VAMPIRES]
Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!
In this town we call home
Everyone hail to the pumpkin song
[MAYOR]
In this town, don't we love it now?
Everybody's waiting for the next surprise
[CORPSE CHORUS]
Round that corner, man hiding in the trash cam
Something's waiting no to pounce, and how you'll...
[HARLEQUIN DEMON, WEREWOLF & MELTING MAN]
Scream! This is Halloween
Red 'n' black, slimy green
[WEREWOLF]
Aren't you scared?
[WITCHES]
Well, that's just fine
Say it once, say it twice
Take a chance and roll the dice
Ride with the moon in the dead of night
[HANGING TREE]
Everybody scream, everbody scream
[HANGED MEN]
In our town of Halloween!
[CLOWN]
I am the clown with the tear-away face
Here in a flash and gone without a trace
[SECOND GHOUL]
I am the "who" when you call, "Who's there?"
I am the wind blowing through your hair
[OOGIE BOOGIE SHADOW]
I am the shadow on the moon at night
Filling your dreams to the brim with fright
[CORPSE CHORUS]
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!
Halloween! Halloween!
[CHILD CORPSE TRIO]
Tender lumplings everywhere
Life's no fun without a good scare
[PARENT CORPSES]
That's our job, but we're not mean
In our town of Halloween
[CORPSE CHORUS]
In this town
[MAYOR]
Don't we love it now?
[CORPSE CHORUS]
Skeleton Jack might catch you in the back
And scream like a banshee
Make you jump out of your skin
This is Halloween, everyone scream
Wont' ya please make way for a very special guy
Our man jack is King of the Pumpkin patch
Everyone hail to the Pumpkin King
[EVERYONE]
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!
[CORPSE CHILD TRIO]
In this town we call home
Everyone hail to the pumpkin song
[EVERYONE]
La la-la la, Halloween! Halloween! [Repeat]
