October 25th, 2018 | Updated on March 16th, 2024
Halloween is an annual holiday celebrated each year on October 31, and Halloween 2018 occurs on Wednesday, October 31. It originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts.
In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints; soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating sweet treats.
So, Halloween is upon us! It’s that time of year again for elaborate costumes and trick or treating. But why do we actually celebrate Halloween? Where did the holiday originate from and what does Halloween mean?
Let’s find out some intriguing and at the same time interesting facts about Halloween!
1. “Halloween” Is Short For “Hallows’ Eve” Or “Hallows’ Evening,” Which Was The Evening Before All Hallows’ (Sanctified Or Holy) Day Or Hallowmas On November 1. In An Effort To Convert Pagans, The Christian Church Decided That Hallowmas Or All Saints’ Day (November 1) And All Souls’ Day (November 2) Should Assimilate Sacred Pagan Holidays That Fell On Or Around October 31.
2. Halloween Is Thought To Have Originated Around 4000 B.C., Which Means Halloween Has Been Around For Over 6,000 Years.
3. Ireland Is Typically Believed To Be The Birthplace Of Halloween.
4. Black And Orange Are Typically Associated With Halloween. Orange Is A Symbol Of Strength And Endurance And, Along With Brown And Gold, Stands For The Harvest And Autumn. Black Is Typically A Symbol Of Death And Darkness And Acts As A Reminder That Halloween Once Was A Festival That Marked The Boundaries Between Life And Death.
5. Halloween Has Variously Been Called All Hallows’ Eve, Witches Night, Lamswool, Snap-Apple Night, Samhaim, And Summer’s End.
6. Dressing Up As Ghouls And Other Spooks Originated From The Ancient Celtic Tradition Of Townspeople Disguising Themselves As Demons And Spirits. The Celts Believed That Disguising Themselves This Way Would Allow Them To Escape The Notice Of The Real Spirits Wandering The Streets During Samhain.
7. Halloween Is The Second Highest Grossing Commercial Holiday After Christmas.
8. Fifty Percent Of Kids Prefer To Receive Chocolate Candy For Halloween, Compared With 24% Who Prefer Non- Chocolate Candy And 10% Who Preferred Gum.
9. The Owl Is A Popular Halloween Image. In Medieval Europe, Owls Were Thought To Be Witches, And To Hear An Owl’s Call Meant Someone Was About To Die.
10. Stephen Clarke Holds The Record For The World’s Fastest Pumpkin Carving Time: 24.03 Seconds, Smashing His Previous Record Of 54.72 Seconds. The Rules Of The Competition State That The Pumpkin Must Weigh Less Than 24 Pounds And Be Carved In A Traditional Way, Which Requires At Least Eyes, Nose, Ears, And A Mouth.
11. In Many Countries, Such As France And Australia, Halloween Is Seen As An Unwanted And Overly Commercial American Influence.
12. Both Salem, Massachusetts, And Anoka, Minnesota, Are The Self-Proclaimed Halloween Capitals Of The World.
Source: Factretriever
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