Ready to get your spook on this Halloween? We’ve got some fun Halloween trivia to share with you! Our team has scoured the interwebs to bring you some frighteningly interesting facts about everyone’s favorite holiday.
Did you know?
That Halloween originated in Ireland over 2,000 years ago? The holiday was called Samhain (pronounced sow-in) and was celebrated on the night of October 31st. It was believed that on this night, the ghosts of the dead would return to earth.
Get This:
The word Halloween is actually a contraction of All Hallows’ Eve, which is the day before All Saints’ Day. In the 8th century, the Catholic Church moved All Saints’ Day to November 1st to Christianize the pagan holiday of Samhain.
Spooky Fact:
Black cats have a long history of being associated with witches and witchcraft. In the Middle Ages, it was believed that witches could transform themselves into black cats, and that some black cats were witches in disguise themselves! Today, black cats are often seen as a symbol of bad luck, and many shelters refuse to adopt them out during the month of October.
Trivia Time:
The first known mention of trick-or-treating in North America occurred in 1927 in Blackie, Alberta, Canada. A newspaper report described it as “a youthful prank carried out by masked children who go from house to house asking for candy and other treats.”
Some More Fun Facts:
The Irish brought the tradition of carving pumpkins with faces to America, but originally they used turnips. They would carve them into scary faces and place them outside their homes to scare away ghosts and evil spirits.
Did You Know?
In Mexico, the Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. It is a time to remember and honor loved ones who have passed away. Celebrations include building altars in their homes with offerings of food, flowers, and other items the person may have enjoyed in life.
Surprising Fact:
The largest pumpkin ever grown weighed in at 1,140 pounds! It was grown by a farmer in Belgium in 2016 and named “Mathias Willemijns.”
Halloween Trivia:
In Ancient Rome, bobbing for apples was a popular activity. It was believed that whichever apple a person bit into first would predict their romantic future. If it was sweet, they could expect a happy love life. If it was sour, they could expect trouble ahead!
Who Knew?
The first known Halloween greeting card was created in the early 1900s. It featured a witch on a broomstick and the message “Halloween Greetings.”
That’s all for now, folks! We hope you’ve enjoyed learning some fun Halloween trivia and that it has put you in the spooky spirit! Happy Halloween!
