Ghosts or spirits are one of the oldest surviving traditions of Samhain (the Celtic pagan festival that Halloween derives from). It was believed that on October 31^st the boundaries between the living and the dead became blurred and that spirits from beyond the grave had free reign over the earth. In order to quell these spirits the living would wear costumes to disguise themselves from ghosts whom they believed to be their dead relatives and set out food and drink to appease these other worldly spirits. Despite the many changes that have occurred to Halloween in its 2000+ years of history ghosts and spirits remain one of the integral influences and symbols of the holiday and are in fact the overriding reason that it is still celebrated.