Happy Halloween!
Enjoy some fun facts about Halloween!
1.
Halloween originated from the Gaelic festival Samhain (which is why the fear of Halloween is samhainophobia!) from over 2000 years ago. It marks the “darker half” of the year, and the end of the harvest season. As such, the Celtics believed that the spirits of the dead returned on the eve of the new year, and therefore used costumes to ward them off.
2.
Jack o’ lanterns originate from a Irish tale about a man named Stingy Jack. His ghost was named “Jack of the Lantern” which was shortened to “Jack O’Lantern.”
3.
Before the 1950s, candy actually wasn’t typically given out for trick-or-treating. Previously, popular items that were given out were fruits, nuts, and cake. In the 1950s, candy was once promoted for as treats for trick-or treating (which has existed since medieval times!) and became a staple ever since.
4.
Candy corn, the supposed king of all Halloween candy, was previously known as “chicken feed” when it was first marketed in the late 19th century. More recently, other candies such as Skittles, Reese’s, and Starburst have risen as the most popular candy.
5.
Haunted houses in America were first created during the Great Depression, with their original purpose being keeping kids off their lawns. However, this slowly became an entertainment attraction once people realized that they could charge money for entering.