- Origins of Halloween: Halloween has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. Celts believed that on the night of October 31st, the boundary between the living and the dead was blurred, allowing spirits to return to Earth.
- Jack-o’-Lanterns: The tradition of carving pumpkins into Jack-o’-lanterns originates from an Irish legend about a man named “Stingy Jack,” who tricked the devil and was forced to wander the earth with only a carved turnip to light his way. When Irish immigrants came to America, they found that pumpkins were more plentiful and easier to carve than turnips.
- Costume Wearing: The practice of wearing costumes on Halloween can be traced back to the Samhain festival, where people would dress up as spirits to avoid being recognized by ghosts. This evolved into modern-day Halloween costumes.
- Trick-or-Treating: The tradition of trick-or-treating might have evolved from the medieval practice of “souling,” where poor people would go door-to-door on Hallowmas (November 1st) to request food in exchange for prayers for the dead. Over time, it transformed into the more playful practice of trick-or-treating.
- Halloween and Candy: Halloween is the second-largest commercial holiday in the United States, following Christmas. Americans spend approximately $2.6 billion on candy each year, with favorites like chocolate bars, gummies, and candy corn topping the list.
