Random Halloween Facts
1. Ireland is thought to be the original birthplace of Halloween, which was an ancient Gaelic festival called Samhain (pronounced "sah-win"), which means summers' end. Gaelic Celts believed on the night before the new year (or the end of the harvest year) the lines which divided the living from the dead were blurred.
2. The fear of Halloween is called Samhainophobia.
3. Trick-or-Treating evolved from an ancient Gaelic tradition of putting treats and food out to placate the spirits who roamed the streets on Samhain.
4. As the holiday became more prominent, dressing up as ghosts and witches became the norm. The word 'witch' comes from the Old English 'wicce,' meaning 'wise woman.' This is also the word where 'wiccan' is derived. At one time wiccans were highly respected wise women of their day.
5. The name 'jack-o-lantern' is of British origin from the 17th century and literally meant 'man with a lantern.' The first jack-o-lanterns were originally made from turnips. Legend has it that a man named Jack tricked the devil several times and because of this he was denied entrance into both heaven and hell. He was doomed to forever wander the earth with his lantern trying to trick the unaware from their intended paths.
6. Halloween is now a $7 Billion enterprise, making up 8% of the U.S. candy sales per year. Over $2 Billion is spent on costumes alone, $330 Million on pet costumes. It is the second highest grossing commercial holiday after Christmas.
7. Halloween is primarily a United States phenomenon. While other European countries celebrate Halloween, or All Hallows Eve, they credit the U.S. for it's commercialism and tend to be more sedate in their practices.
8. Mexico celebrates a Day of the Dead (Dias de los Muertos) holiday as a celebration of family and friends who have passed away. They parade through the towns dressed as ghouls or ghosts and take food to the cemeteries to leave by the graveside of loved ones. This holiday has roots in ancient Aztec customs.
9. Today's most popular Halloween costumes have less to do with witches, ghosts and monsters than they do pop-culture icons and politicians. The holiday has become largely and adult holiday and now has the third largest alcohol sales of any U.S. holiday outside of New Year's Eve and 4th of July.
10. All reported incidents of tampering with Halloween candy in years' past have proven to be either urban legends or were plots of family members to do harm to their own children. Still…it never hurts to check your child's candy carefully…and to take a piece or two as payment for your efforts.
Happy Halloween!
Tracy