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10 Surprising Facts About Halloween.

Facts You Might Have Not Known About Halloween!

Harinder Parhar

Oct 30, 2020

Hunter College

Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash

The year is 2020. It's a Friday night, Halloween Eve. And tomorrow, October 31st is Halloween, on a Saturday. FINALLY. The week's weather has been defined with grey clouds, strong gusts of wind, and a combination of rain that hits the face and arms like pellets from the sky. It is the perfect Halloween to learn about the 2nd most famous American celebration, that is right before Christmas.

Photo by Neven Krcmarek on https://unsplash.com/photos/2Ni0lCRF9bw

1. A Full Moon On Halloween Is A Rare Occasion.

The most enduring and popular image of a Halloween Trrick or Treat Night is a large, golden harvest moon providing its beautiful glow aiding night time travels. However, this is not true. The next Halloween with a full moon to occur will be tomorrow, October 31st, 2020! The previous full moons date back to Halloween 1955 and 2001, with the next one after 2020, being 2036! Not only will 2020 Halloween see a full moon, however, astronomers have also predicted a blue moon - a phenomenon whereby the moon appears bluish owing to smoke or dust particles in the atmosphere.

Photo by Paige Cody on https://unsplash.com/photos/Es6I-4eHVug

2. You Used To Have To Dance For Your Treats.

If you thought the old granny who would only give candy if you said "Trick Or Treat" and wore an extraordinary costume was bad, this is worse. An early form of trick-or-treating was the European tradition of "mumming" or "guising" in which groups of costumed children would go door to door and perform coordinated dances, songs, and skits in return for candy.

Photo by Raphael Renter on https://unsplash.com/photos/bbASGrTaDSM

3. Some Animal Shelters Don't Adopt Out Black Cats In October.

Black cats have long served as objects of superstition. In Medieval France and Spain, black cats were considered bringers of bad luck and curses to any human they came near, and were associated with witchcraft, in which witches would turn into black cats to disguise themselves. Many Medieval Germans believed themselves to be cursed if a black cat crossed their path from left to right. Till today, some animal shelters refrain from adopting black cats on Halloween, or even the entire month of October!

Photo by Cristian Grecu on https://unsplash.com/photos/_ykb4UBjtGU

4. Halloween Originally Began As The Celebration Of The Death.

Nearly 2,000 years ago, the ancient Celts adopted Samhain and turned it into All Saints' Day and All Hallows' Eve, where the modern term, Halloween was derived. The Celts were pagans who lived in what is now Ireland, and they celebrated the new year on November 1. Their festival, Samhain marked the end of fall's harvest and welcomed the season of winter, a season that signified death and darkness.

Photo by K. Mitch Hodge on https://unsplash.com/photos/GdXFgV64cPk

5. Wearing Scary Costumes.

With all the "ghosts" wandering around the Earth during Samhain, the Celts had to get creative to avoid being terrorized by evil spirits. To blend in with the ghosts, the Celts would don disguises so they would be mistaken for the spirits themselves. Today, costume wearing is a form of celebrating Halloween to get some treats!

Photo by Jen Theodore on https://unsplash.com/photos/KDu-62mZGcA

6. Witches - Evil Or Wise?

The word "witch" comes from the Old English "wicce" which means "wise woman." According to popular belief, wiccans were highly respected people at one time in which witches held an important meeting on Halloween night.

Photo by Cristian Newman on https://unsplash.com/photos/wGKCaRbElmk

7. A Fear Of Halloween.

7. Samhainophobia is the fear of Halloween. This fear can also present in other fears and phobias such as "phasmophobia" which is the fear of ghosts, "wiccaphobia", the fear of witchcraft, and the fear of darkness, "hyctophobia".

Photo by Kimi Albertson on https://unsplash.com/photos/OhfaEa0Y3zM

8. The Famous Jack O Lanterns.

An Irish legend tells of a man named Jack who tricked the devil. As punishment for what he did, the devil forbade, Jack to enter neither heaven nor hell. Cursed to wander the Earth for eternity, he waves his lantern to lead people away from their paths, hence the Jack-O-Lanterns.

Photo by fotografierende on https://unsplash.com/photos/vDR2n8vCKnA

9. The Iconic Yet Scary Pale Faced Mask

The classic 1978 horror film "Halloween" can be easily recognized in just one image: the psychotic Michael Myers in his iconic pale-faced mask. Without a doubt, it's one chilling look that has struck terror into the hearts of partying teens in slasher flicks. The movie was filmed on a tight budget in which the crew had no choice but to use the cheapest mask they could find; a $2 Star Trek Captain James Kirk mask. They spray painted it white and reshaped the eye holes, making William Shatner look incredibly creepy.

Photo by Stefano Pollio on https://unsplash.com/photos/ZC0EbdLC8G0

10. Halloween Folklore Is Fulling Of Story Telling And Magic - Perfect For Halloween 2020 Edition.

Old English folklore about Halloween is full of superstition and fortune-telling that still lingers today, such as bobbing for apples or avoiding black cats. One piece of folklore says that if a young unmarried person walks down the stairs backwards at midnight while holding a mirror, the face that appears in the mirror will be their next lover, others say that if you wear your clothes inside out and walk backwards, you will meet a witch at midnight. Extremely superstitious, this can guarantee one creepy night!

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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10 Surprising Facts About Halloween.

Facts You Might Have Not Known About Halloween!

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Or at least try to do.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

2. I will look decent for class.

3. I will go to the gym more.

4. I will go to the library and study more.

5. I will meet new people.

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

2. Disappointed you let it get this bad

3. Distracted: When a 10-Minute Break Becomes an Hour

4. When the Yearning for Sleep Sneaks Up

5. In the words of Lorelai Gilmore "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee"

Oh, so done.

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1. When it's December 1 and you have seven things due, three exams, and haven't slept in three days.

2. So you stress.

3. And cry.

4. Then call your mom to cry some more.

5. After the pep talk, you feel determined to get everything done.

6. But, now you're tired.

7. And really hungry.

8. Suddenly, it's 2 a.m. and you have only written three sentences and your paper is due in the morning.

9. You've made it to Friday... somehow.

10. Then Sunday hits and you find yourself back at the Lib.

11. So you cry some more.

12. But, you fight through the tears to get everything done because you're determined.

13. In the end, you feel on top of the world because you made it through the last week of class alive.

14. But, now it's finals week so good luck.

The ultimate list and gif guide to a college student's brain during finals.

What does the world outside the library look like?

Can I read this entire book tonight?

I should have gone to class more often.

Did the professor even teach this?

What is the lowest grade I can get on this exam and still pass the class?

Should I just drop out of school now?

Finals are ruining Christmas.

Just wrote three sentences so time for a break.

Need. More. Coffee.

What is sleep?

I'm too stupid for college.

Brain hurts.

Time for a Facebook Break.

I think I'm dying.

When will I ever need this information in the real world?

I can't read any of my notes.

I need my mom.

When was the last time I showered?

I need study snacks.

The struggle is so real right now.

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

1. I'm so tired. I need a nap. Maybe I can sleep with my eyes open in class? Or pretend I'm not napping?

2. We have a test today? Why didn't anyone tell me? Did I know this?!

3. Can I quit school yet? It's only October, and I need a vacation.

4. The struggle is so real.

5. I'm so broke. SOS.

6. Stressed? Eat everything you own in your pantry and stuff your face with all your feelings.

7. "Did we have anything due in class today? Homework? Quiz? Test?" "Not that I know of..."

8. I need food. Where is the closest place to get food? I need it stat.

9. This is the longest day of my life. I need a drink, or two, or three.

10. Sleep? What is sleep? What a foreign concept.

11. When someone suggests going and studying in the library, let alone studying in general.

12. When the cafeteria or student center is packed and you can't find a seat anywhere so you literally have to sit in an abandoned corner.

13. When you see someone you used to hook up with. They see you, and approach you; so you have to pretend like everything is normal.

14. When you get your exam and realize you didn't study as much as you should have.

15. When you crush it on an exam or paper that you totally bullshitted.

16. I need a grande, extra strong coffee to get me through today.

17. When the professor announces you have a project due the following week with no instruction on what it's on and how to do it.

18. Is it Friday yet? Where's the weekend when you need it most?

19. It's freezing in here. I feel like I'm sitting in an igloo. I should have brought a jacket or worn long pants.

20. Did I remember my book? Damn, I forgot the book, and of course I need it for that quiz in class.

21. I would pay a million dollars to not go to class today; or actually never again.

22. I need a hoverboard to ride to class. Maybe then I wouldn't be running 15 minutes late to class every day.

23. Oh she/he's cute! I wonder if they're single. Who are they texting? They're BF/GF? I wonder if they think I'm cute. Could they be a potential new bae?

24. Why is there never any parking? I pay thousands of dollars a year for one parking spot to be open.

25. When it feels like you've been in class for an hour and you look at your phone and it has only been five minutes (I'm crying on the inside).

26. When the professor asks if there are any more questions at the end of class and someone raises their hand.

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