While we know Halloween as the bane of dentists or a possible cash scheme produced by candy companies, its origins date back to the ancient Celts of Central Europe who thrived over 2,000 years ago. The festival first began as Samhain (Saw-wane), a celebration of costumes and bonfires lit to ward off evil spirits. The Celtic peoples celebrated Samhain to usher in the new year and to mark the end of the harvest season.