The history of Halloween

 


  • Celtic Origins: Halloween originates from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, celebrated on October 31. The Celts believed that the boundary between the living and the dead became blurred on this night, allowing spirits to return to Earth.

  • Jack-o'-Lanterns: The tradition of carving pumpkins started in Ireland, where people originally carved turnips and potatoes. The term "jack-o'-lantern" comes from an Irish myth about "Stingy Jack," a man who tricked the devil and wandered the Earth with a lantern made from a turnip.

  • Costume Tradition: Wearing costumes on Halloween dates back to Samhain, when people would dress up to ward off ghosts. They believed that wearing disguises would help them blend in with wandering spirits.

  • Trick-or-Treating: The custom of trick-or-treating likely has several origins, including the medieval practice of "souling", where the poor would go door-to-door on All Souls' Day, receiving food in exchange for prayers for the dead.

  • Candy Consumption: Halloween is the second-largest commercial holiday in the U.S. after Christmas, with Americans spending over $2.6 billion on candy annually. Chocolate is the most popular candy, especially small "fun size" bars.

  • Black Cats: Black cats are often associated with bad luck and Halloween. This superstition dates back to the Middle Ages, when some people believed that witches could transform into black cats.

  • Halloween Colors: The traditional colors of Halloween—orange and black—symbolize the autumn harvest (orange) and the darkness of night (black).

  • Haunted Attractions: Haunted houses and attractions are a huge part of modern Halloween festivities. There are over 4,000 commercial haunted attractions in the U.S., and many charities also organize haunted houses as fundraisers.



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