Halloween is the second most popular holiday in the U.S. While masses of children, all dressed up as superheroes and princesses, knock from door to door, collecting enormous amounts of sweets, adults participate in festivities, by decorating their houses and throwing theme parties. Although it is widely considered as an American tradition, Halloween has European roots.
1
Halloween’s origins date back to the Celts.
October 31st was a night of pre-new-year celebration, called the Samhain festival. The Celts, a group of Indo-European peoples that lived 2,000 years ago, believed the world of the living and the dead mingled for a night, and the spirits of the dead, both good and vicious, had returned to walk the earth again.
2
The Celts celebrated the new year on October 1st.
On one hand, they celebrated the harvest and the end of the summer season, on the other feared the upcoming winter, harsh weather, and the lack of sun. The turn of summer and winter was a harsh time for the inhabitants of northern Europe, associated with many deaths.
3
The term “Hallowe’en” means “Saints’ evening” and originates from a Scottish “All Hallows’ Eve”.
4
Although Halloween is mostly associated with ghosts, pumpkins, and bats, it is a spider that is a lucky charm.
Finding a spider on the night of Halloween is considered good luck.
5
The popularity of black cats, owls, and bats during Halloween festivities suggests, that they were once considered the most vulnerable to demonic possession.
Their bodies were cleansed of evil during mystical rituals.
6
Trick-or-treating evolved from “mumming” or “souling”.
It was a Scottish and Irish medieval tradition for kids to dress up as ghosts and venture from house to house, performing tricks, songs, and poems in exchange for food and drink.
7
Halloween in the U.S. was popularized by Irish immigrants.
They brought their tradition along in the 1840s, which spread across the country. It reached its peak in the 1920s.
8
Apart from the general idea of a celebration, the Irish also brought Jack-o’-lantern.
There is an Irish legend about Stingy Jack, who tricked the devil, and was therefore denied heaven and hell. He started roaming the Earth carrying a lantern, earning the nickname “Jack of the Lantern.”
9
First Jack-o’-lanterns were carved from turnips, beets, or potatoes.
Pumpkins became popular once the holiday spread in the U.S.
10
Halloween is associated with orange and black colors.
Orange symbolizes the harvest season, while black, its opposite, is associated with the spirits, and death.
11
An average American family spends over $100 on decorations, costumes, and candy.
12
The Guinness World Record for most lit Jack-o’-lanterns on display is 30,581.
The record belongs to the City of Keene, New Hampshire.
13
It is illegal to dress up as a priest, a nun, or any other religious figure in Alabama.
Ever since 1965, it is considered disrespectful towards the religion and its followers.
14
Halloween is the second most popular holiday.
It is surpassed only by Christmas.
15
New York hosts the largest Halloween parade in the U.S.
It attracts over 50,000 dressed-up participants every year.
16
The Guinness World Record for fastest pumpkin carving belongs to Steve Clark.
He set the record in 2013 and required only 16,47 seconds.
17
Spiderman is the most popular Halloween costume among children.
Halloween symbols-witch and ghost-come fifth and sixth, respectively.
18
Although popular among children, some countries are not fond of the Halloween tradition.
Basically, it is celebrated in the U.S., Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. In many countries, the festivities come down to various attractions during a school day.
19
The most popular and highest-selling candies for Halloween are Reese’s cups.
20
Many cities in the U.S. hold an annual competition for the best Halloween house decorations.
21
There are many local traditions associated with Halloween.
The Irish do not pick wild berries on November 1st, because they might be poisonous. In certain parts of England, Scotland, and Wales, housewives thoroughly clean the house and put food and drinks on the table before going to sleep.
