The evening before was called All Hallows' Evening. From that we get the modern name of Halloween. In 834 A.D. Gregory IV extended the feast for all the church and it became known as All Saint's Day, still remembering the dead. But pagan customs continued. Only in recent years have parents hesitated to send their children into the streets because of the increased danger of accidents, poisoned food, and menacing strangers.
Many adults look at it as the one night of the year they can dress up and act foolish.