Halloween is one of the most popular holidays of the year, and for good reason. During the spooky season you can scare yourself silly in a haunted house, decorate your home and garden with all kinds of scary stuff, carve pumpkins, and best of all, dress up in costume and take the kids trick or treating for some delicious candy.
But, even if you’re a super Halloween fan, there’s probably a lot you might not know about this spooky holiday. So, we’ve put together a list of fun facts about Halloween you can share with the kids.
Halloween Originated From a Celtic Festival
Halloween dates back about 2,000 years to an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain. It was celebrated on October 31st to mark the end of the harvest season. It was believed that on October 31st, the boundary between the living and the dead blurred and the dead could come back and wreak havoc on the living. To help ward off the ghosts, people would wear costumes and masks and light bonfires.
The Origins of the Name Halloween
The name Halloween comes from the Catholic All Saints’ Day that happens on November 1. It was originally called All Hallows Eve. All Hallows means holy and Eve stands for evening.
How to See a Witch at Midnight
I have not tested this, but it’s believed that if you walk backwards and wear your clothes inside out on Halloween, you will see a witch at midnight. Inside out clothes sound easy. Walking backwards all day might prove a little more difficult.
Irish Immigrants Took Halloween to America
Halloween was first celebrated in the 19th century by Irish immigrants. It wasn’t until the 1930s that non-Irish Americans celebrated the holiday.
The Legend of Stingy Jack
Jack-o’-lanterns were inspired by the Irish legend of Stingy Jack. According to folklore, Jack tricked the devil twice and when he died, he was not allowed into heaven or hell. Instead, he was forced to walk the Earth with only a burning coal in a carved out turnip to light his way.
Jack-o’-Lanterns Were Originally Turnips
It’s thought that Jack-o’-lanterns originated in Ireland during the 19th century. But, they didn’t carve pumpkins; they carved turnips.
Trick or Treating
Some people believe trick or treating came from ‘souling’ others from ‘mumming’. Both are basically the same thing. People would go from house to house asking for food and offering a blessing in thanks for the treat. If a household refused to give a ‘treat’, then they received a ‘trick’ which usually consisted of damaging something or cursing the household.
Candy Corn Used to be Called Chicken Feed
Neither name is very appetizing to me, but candy Corn sounds a little better. Candy Corn was created by George Renninger in the 1800s. When he first started selling it, he called it Chicken Feed, but changed the name to Candy Corn after World War 1.
The World’s Heaviest Jack-o’ Lantern
Weighing in at a massive 2,684 lb 2 oz, the world’s heaviest Jack-o’-lantern was shown in Baden-Wurttemberg, German at the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival. It was carved with a face and several other decorations.
In Ireland People Celebrate Halloween by Setting Off Fireworks
To celebrate Halloween in Ireland, people light bonfires, let off fireworks and eat barnbrack. A traditional type of fruitcake.
People Hide Their Knives in Germany
In Germany, it’s a tradition for people to hide their knives on Halloween to try to prevent any returning spirits from hurting themselves.
Michael Myers and William Shatner
Almost everyone has seen or heard of the classic 1987 slasher film “Halloween”. But, did you know that the iconic mask that Michael Myers wore was actually a $2 William Shatner mask? The film had a strict budget, and that was the cheapest mask they could find. They just spray painted it and reshaped the eye holes a bit.
Apple Bobbing
Apple bobbing has roots in fortune telling, specifically to predict who a woman would marry. Girls would mark apples before putting them in the water, and then when men would bob for apples, the one they picked would determine who they would marry.
Halloween and the Full Moon
A perfect Halloween night would be a dark, cloudless sky and a bright full moon. But, a full moon on Halloween is actually quite rare and is said to only happen about once every 19 years.
Popular Halloween Costumes
Some of the most popular Halloween costumes over the past few years have included Harley Quinn, Medusa (in London), Cruella de Vil (Birmingham), Tinkerbell (Liverpool), and Black Widow (Manchester). In my hometown of Reading and in Brighton, cat costumes have been popular.
Popular Halloween Candy
In recent years, trick-or-treaters have received Cadbury’s Freddo, Mars Bars, Haribo Starmix, Jelly Fangs, Snickers and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. The peanut butter cups are also popular among trick-or-treaters in America.
