Many pagans, however, persisted in their traditional beliefs, preserving a few by adapting them to more modern times. Trick or treating and costumery cite their origins back to Celtic pranking, and many symbols of the season are pagan in nature: bats, spirits, scarecrows, broomsticks, and of course, witches.
In Mexico and many other Latin American countries, the Day of the Dead ~ el Dia de los Muertos, is celebrated from the eve of October 31st through November 2nd. It is a time of remembrance and welcoming back the dead to honor them during a brief reunion filled with celebration, food, and drink. Many here in the United States follow these traditions.