The Fascinating Unknowns of Halloween (1) Halloween is a well-celebrated and famous holiday, but it is actually a mix of different traditions and festivals from a range of cultures, including the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, Roman festivals, and Christian holidays. (2) Contrary to popular belief, Halloween wasn't always about candy. In fact, the tradition of "trick or treating" is relatively modern. It originated in the 20th century and was popularized in the United States. (3) The first jack-o'-lanterns weren't carved out of pumpkins. They were made from turnips, beets, or potatoes by the Irish. The practice was brought to America by Irish immigrants, who found that pumpkins were easier to carve and more readily available. (4) Halloween owes much of its "spooky" reputation to the Celts. They believed that on the night of Samhain, the boundary between the living and the dead was blurred, allowing spirits to roam the earth. (5) Although Halloween seems to be heavily commercialized these days, it was initially regarded as a time of reverence for the dead. It was seen as a spiritual bridge between the living and the dead, with feasts, costumes, and storytelling forming an integral part of the occasion. (6) You might be surprised to know that costumes weren't always a part of Halloween. The Celts would wear animal skins and heads during their Samhain festival, but the tradition of wearing costumes on Halloween didn't start until the Middle Ages during a Christian practice called "guising." (7) Black and orange are the most associated colors with Halloween. While black represents death and darkness, orange signifies the autumn harvest. They're seen as symbolic of the transition between life and death, fitting the holiday's theme. (8) The word "witch" comes from the Old English "wicce," meaning "wise woman." Historically, people believed witches gathered twice a year, one of these times being on Halloween night. (9) Halloween was not widely celebrated in the United States until the second half of the 19th century when a large number of Irish immigrants fleeing the Irish Potato Famine brought their Halloween traditions with them. (10) The fear of Halloween is a real phobia, known as Samhainophobia. Samhainophobia is derived from the Gaelic festival Samhain, from which Halloween originated. (11) Many Halloween superstitions revolve around cats—especially black ones. In the Middle Ages, black cats were associated with witchcraft. Some people believed witches could transform into black cats and back. (12) The largest pumpkin ever grown weighed a whopping 2,624.6 pounds, according to the Guinness World Records. It was grown by a Belgian man named Mathias Willemijns in 2016. (13) The commercial influence of Halloween is massive in the United States. In 2021, Americans were projected to spend $10.14 billion on Halloween, making it the country's second-largest commercial holiday after Christmas. (14) In Hollywood, there's a $1,000 fine for using Silly String on Halloween. This law came into effect in 2004 and remains in force between 12:00 AM on October 31 to 12:00 PM on November 1. (15) Halloween isn't celebrated everywhere. While it's big in the United States, Canada, and Ireland, other countries either don't observe the holiday at all or have their own similar traditions and celebrations. (16) The tradition of "bobbing for apples" comes from a Roman festival honoring Pomona, the goddess of fruit and trees. The Romans brought this tradition to the British Isles when they invaded, and over time it got incorporated into Halloween festivities. (17) There's a long-standing urban legend that more pets, particularly black cats, are sacrificed around Halloween. While there's little evidence to support this, many animal shelters still won't adopt out black cats during October as a precaution. (18) Many of the spooky creatures associated with Halloween, such as bats, owls, and spiders, have connections to the ancient Samhain festival. The Celts believed that these animals were able to communicate with the spirit world. (19) Did you know that in the Middle Ages, "souling" was a popular Halloween tradition? Children and sometimes poor adults would sing and say prayers for the dead in return for cakes. (20) While Halloween is often associated with horror films today, the first film to incorporate the holiday was "Don't Look in the Basement," released in 1973. But it wasn't until John Carpenter's "Halloween" in 1978 that the holiday became truly synonymous with the genre. (21) Full moons on Halloween are rare. In the 21st century, they're expected to occur only in the years 2001, 2020, and 2039. A Halloween full moon is often associated with increased supernatural activity, according to folklore. (22) Some areas of the world have unique Halloween traditions. In Germany, for instance, it's customary to hide all knives to prevent harm to (or from) the returning spirits. (23) In early Halloween celebrations, people used to "dance" for their treats. This was a part of the tradition known as "mumming," where people would perform short scenes or skits in exchange for food and drink. (24) According to Irish legend, Jack O'Lanterns are named after a stingy man named Jack who, because he tricked the devil several times, was forbidden entrance into both heaven and hell. He was condemned to wander the Earth, waving his lantern to lead people away from their paths. (25) Tootsie Rolls were the first wrapped penny candy in America. They became popular treats to hand out on Halloween due to their affordability and easy-to-handle packaging. (26) Believe it or not, the tradition of making pumpkin pies from the insides of carved jack-o'-lanterns dates back hundreds of years. After carving a scary face into the pumpkin, colonists would often use the scooped-out pulp to prepare a sweet pie. (27) The highest grossing Halloween movie of all time is "Halloween" (2018), making over $255 million worldwide. This reboot of the classic horror franchise showcases the continued popularity of Halloween in pop culture. (28) Trick-or-treating has different names around the world. In Scotland and parts of Canada, children say they're "guising." In some parts of the United States, kids might say they're "trunk-or-treating." (29) It's not uncommon for towns to move Halloween celebrations. When October 31 falls on a Sunday, some towns in the United States will move trick-or-treating to the Saturday before, as to not interfere with Sunday church services or school nights. (30) Lastly, Halloween is believed to have originated from Ireland, making it one of the country's most important cultural exports. Today, it is celebrated around the world with costumes, candies, and spooky fun!