Halloween Fun Facts - Mysteries & Surprises of October 31st

Halloween, a bewitching night of ghosts, goblins, and glowing jack-o'-lanterns, is more than just candy and costumes. Beneath its modern façade lies a tapestry woven with ancient rituals, superstitious beliefs, and cultural amalgamations that have evolved over millennia. While today's celebrations often involve playful scares and sweet treats, the origins of Halloween and its accompanying traditions are rooted in profound practices that sought to understand and placate the unseen world of spirits.

From the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain to the influence of Roman festivities, and from medieval customs to contemporary commercialism, the evolution of Halloween is as multifaceted as a spider's web glistening in the moonlight. As October 31st approaches and the veil between the living and the dead is believed to thin, let's delve into a trove of Halloween facts that illuminate the dark and mysterious history of this beloved holiday. Whether you're a curious soul or a Halloween aficionado, there's always something new to discover about this enchanting occasion. Prepare to be spellbound!

1. Ancient Origin

Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. Celts believed that the boundaries between the living and the dead blurred on this day, allowing spirits to roam the Earth.

2. Roman Influence

The Romans merged their own festivals with Samhain when they conquered Celtic territories. Feralia, a day in late October when Romans commemorated the dead, and a day to honor Pomona, the goddess of fruit and trees, are believed to have influenced modern Halloween traditions.

3. Name Evolution

The term "Halloween" is derived from "All Hallows' Eve", which is the evening before All Saints' Day, a Christian holiday.

4. Jack-o'-Lantern Lore

Irish legend tells of a man named Jack who tricked the Devil and was denied entrance to both Heaven and Hell. He was doomed to wander the Earth with only a burning coal (which he put in a carved-out turnip) to light his way. Americans began using pumpkins, native to North America, instead of turnips.

5. Candy Corn:

This iconic Halloween candy originated in the 1880s and was originally called "chicken feed." It was designed to resemble a kernel of corn and became synonymous with the fall season, especially Halloween.

6. World Record Pumpkins

The heaviest pumpkin ever recorded weighed a whopping 2,624.6 pounds in 2016 in Germany. Imagine trying to carve that!

7. Witchcraft: The word "witch" comes from the Old English wicce, meaning "wise woman." Historically, witches held one of their two main meetings, or sabbats, on Halloween night.

8. Black Cats: In the Middle Ages, people believed witches avoided detection by turning themselves into black cats. This is partly why these felines are associated with the holiday.

9. Halloween Costumes: The tradition of dressing in costumes began as a way for people to disguise themselves from spirits. By dressing up, they'd blend in and not be recognized as human souls.

10. Halloween Economy: This spooky holiday is the second largest commercial holiday in the U.S., with Christmas being the first. Americans spend billions on costumes, decorations, and candy every year.

11. World Celebrations: While Halloween is popular in the U.S., other countries celebrate similar holidays, like Day of the Dead in Mexico or Hungry Ghost Festival in China.

12. Rare Full Moon: A full moon on Halloween is quite rare. The most recent one was in 2020, and the next will not be until 2039.

13. Fear of Halloween: There's an actual phobia of Halloween called Samhainophobia.

14. Bats  These nocturnal creatures are often associated with Halloween. One superstition is that if a bat flies around your house three times, it is a sign that death is imminent.

15. Trick-or-Treating Origins Going door-to-door collecting food dates back to the Middle Ages and includes Christmas wassailing. Trick-or-treating resembles the late medieval practice of "souling."

16. Bobbing for Apples

This game originates from the Roman festival of Pomona, where the apple was a symbol of the orchard. It represents the virtue of abundance.

17. Halloween Colors: Black and orange are the traditional colors of Halloween. Black symbolizes death and darkness while orange is associated with the fall harvest.

18. Protection from Spirits To protect themselves from harmful spirits, people would light bonfires and wear masks to confuse the ghosts and keep them away.

19. Candy Facts Every year, Americans consume over 600 million pounds of candy during Halloween. The most popular? Chocolate, of course!

20. World's Longest Haunted House Located in Lewisburg, Ohio, the Haunted Cave is considered the world's longest haunted house, spanning over 3,564 feet underground.

21. Toothsome Tradition: The tradition of giving out candy to trick-or-treaters is believed to have started in the U.S. in the early 20th century. Before candy, people handed out homemade pastries, fruits, nuts, and coins.

22. Eerie Animals: Apart from black cats, owls are also considered Halloween symbols. In medieval Europe, hearing an owl's call meant someone was about to die.

23. Edible Jack-O’-Lanterns: Pumpkins are not the only vegetables used to make lanterns. In various parts of the world, people also use turnips, beets, and potatoes.

24. Halloween Capital: Anoka, Minnesota, claims to be the "Halloween Capital of the World" due to its elaborate celebrations and being one of the first cities in the U.S. to host a Halloween parade in 1920.

25. Costume Inspiration: The earliest Halloween costumes were based on supernatural figures such as ghosts, witches, and skeletons. Today, the inspiration has expanded to include popular culture, superheroes, and more.

26. Celtic Bonfires: During the original Samhain celebrations, the Celts lit bonfires believing they would ward off evil spirits. The larger and brighter the fire, the better it was believed to protect.

27. Silent Brooms: It was once believed that witches would hide their brooms from being borrowed by mischievous spirits on Halloween night.

28. Illinois grows as much as five times the number of pumpkins compared to any other state.

Illinois stands unparalleled in its pumpkin production, boasting a yield that's up to five times greater than any other state in the U.S. This impressive harvest firmly establishes it as the country's true pumpkin capital. Whether you're carving a jack-o'-lantern or baking a pie, there's a good chance your pumpkin has Illinois roots!

29. White Pumpkins 

While orange pumpkins are the most popular, white pumpkins have become trendy in recent years. They are often used for decoration and can be carved or painted for a modern twist on the traditional jack-o’-lantern.

30. Glowing Fish: Some places in America judge the best-carved pumpkin by placing them in water. The pumpkins float, and when illuminated, they provide a spooky underwater glow, often referred to as "water lanterns."