Halloween is celebrated on 31 October each year. The name “Halloween” comes from “All Hallows’ Eve,” the night before All Saints’ Day (1 November).
Halloween’s origins can be traced back over 2,000 years to the Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season.
Here are ten fun facts about Halloween:
1. Turnips were the first Jack-o-Lanterns in Ireland and Scotland. They were carved to ward off evil spirits and other unwanted travelers and eventually became a Halloween tradition. Irish and Scottish immigrants brought the tradition with them to North America, where they discovered pumpkins are perfect for carving faces.
2. Black and orange are the traditional colors of Halloween. Black represents darkness and death, while orange symbolizes the harvest and autumn.
3. The practice of dressing up in costumes dates back to ancient Celtic traditions. People believed that disguising themselves as spirits would protect them from real ghosts.
4. In Mexico, Halloween is celebrated as part of the three-day Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival, which honors deceased loved ones.
5. The concept of trick-or-treating in North America can be traced back to the early 20th century. It was initially more about pranks than collecting candy.
6. Some people believe that if you wear your clothes inside out and walk backward on Halloween, you’ll see a witch at midnight.
7. Bobbing for apples is a traditional Halloween game that dates back to Roman times. Apples were offered to the gods during Samhain as a sacrifice.
8. The word “witch” comes from the Old English word “wicce,” which means “wise woman.”
9. The tradition of trick-or-treating has its roots in medieval Europe when “soul cakes” were given to the poor in exchange for prayers for the dead.
10. In some cultures, it’s believed that if you see a spider on Halloween, it’s the spirit of a loved one watching over you.