The first Jack O’Lanterns were made from turnips, beets, and potatoes.
In 2018, people are using squash, melons, and even pineapples. for carving.
This holiday is the second highest grossing commercial holiday after Christmas.
Samhainophobia refers to people that are afraid of Halloween.
A large 50% of kids prefer chocolate candy for Halloween.
There are only 24% of children that like non-chocolate candy for trick-or-treat, treats.
And 10% of kids want gum for their Halloween candy.
The largest Halloween parade in New York City is called the Village Halloween parade.
Originally, you needed to dance for your treat. Or put on a short play or sing a song. The candy givers wanted to be entertained!
Halloween is more Irish than St. Patrick’s Day. The story says that the origins are traced back to a Celtic Festival for the dead named “Samhain.” They also were the ones who invented the jack-o-lantern. Later, these traditions were disrupted and adapted by the Christian missionaries into celebrations closer to what we celebrate in modern day.
During the earliest of the Halloween celebrations, people wore animal skins and heads for the holiday. They wanted to connect with the spirits of the dead.
Halloween used to be the modern Valentine’s Day. Well, not quite. But it was the day that you could find your mate. Parts of Ireland played a romantic fortune-telling game. The game would predict who you’d marry, and when.
Some animal shelters hold on to their black cats around Halloween in fear that the cats will be used for sacrifice. This fear has weakened throughout the years, so much so that some shelters have specials and bla
ck cat promotions around the holiday.
Only six states produce the majority of the pumpkins you see during this holiday. They come from Illinois, California, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. In 2014, these states produced 1.31 billion pounds of pumpkins.
Pilgrims first started the superstition around black cats. It was said that witches could transform into black cats and back and inspired “famous” black cats like Salem from Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Binx in Hocus Pocus.
There is a ban on silly string in Hollywood on Halloween. If you get caught with it, expect a hefty fine of $1000.
Candy corn has been around since 1898.
Leftover candy can last a lot longer than you think. Properly stored chocolate can last for up to two years and even hard candy can last for up to a year.
Owls are a popular Halloween image. In Medieval Europe, owls were thought to be witches. And if you heard an owl call, it meant that someone was about to die. https://www.oddee.com