5 Facts You May Not Know About Halloween | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

5 Facts You May Not Know About Halloween

Fun and spooky facts about Halloween and how it came to be.

1647
5 Facts You May Not Know About Halloween
wallpaper folder

Halloween is right around the corner and with it comes spooky and fun traditions. Today's Halloween traditions have become a hybrid of Pagan, Celtic, Catholic and Roman rituals dating back to the 17th century. Halloween is celebrated every year on October 31 and with it comes with some great history and facts.

1.) Halloween has origins from ancient Celtic beliefs.

Halloween is a shortened version of the name All Hallows Eve which was celebrated by the Catholics, but it is believed that this Catholic holiday was inspired by the Celtic festival Samhain. Samhain was the celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture. During this time the Gaels would stock up on supplies and prepare for the winter season. It was believed that on October 31 the boundaries between the worlds of the living and dead would come together and the dead would come back on this day to reek havoc on the living, killing their crops and causing illness. Masks and costumes were used by the living to disguise themselves from the dead.

2.) Jack O' Lanterns used to be carved out of turnips.

Jack O' lanterns date back to 17th century Britain when people would carve faces into turnips. They were known as "turnip lanterns" and were exactly that. People would cut open the turnip, scoop out the insides, carve a face in the turnip skin and then place a lit candle inside to illuminate the face. During the celebrations of Hallomas (All Saints Day, Nov 1) and All Souls Day( Nov. 2), catholic children would go door to door, carrying turnip lanterns, and would beg for food to commemorate the deceased. It wasn't until the 19th century when the Irish brought over the tradition of carving out of pumpkins. This proved to be much easier then turnips and the tradition caught on by the mid to late 19th century.


3.) Costumes were worn to disguise the living.

The tradition of wearing costumes on Halloween comes from the celebration of Samhain. Because it was believed that the dead were among the living on October 31 people would wear costumes and masks as disguises to trick the dead or scare them away. This was done in the hopes that the dead would leave them alone and not hurt them in any way.


4.) There is a reason orange and black are Halloween colors.

Orange and black are often seen as Halloween colors and believe it or not there is actually a reason for this. In the ancient Celtic times, orange was seen as the color of the harvest. It was associated with the season of harvest and crops. Black was the color that represented the death of the summer. These colors came together on Halloween to represent these two things that were being celebrated.

5.) Halloween in the 2nd most commercial holiday.

In the United States alone 6 billion dollars are spent yearly on Halloween, making it the second most commercial holiday. The most commercial holiday is Christmas with Halloween coming in as the closest second. People spend loads of money in preparation for Halloween on things like candy, costumes, decorations and party supplies. This makes the candy companies very happy around Halloween time.

Halloween is a fun holiday celebrated by most people on October 31. It brings communities together for spooky celebrations and along with it comes some fun traditions. Are you ready for Halloween?


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

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

182827
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

9541
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

454075
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

24247
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments