The Halloween celebration has a 2,000+ year history.
The history of Halloween predates that of Christianity. Samhain, which means "summer's end" in Celtic, was the original pre-Christian celebration of this entire event.
The feast, which was celebrated around the first of November, commemorated the end of the harvest season and the passage of the dead since it was thought that at that time the gulf between the physical and spiritual worlds was at its smallest.
According to History.com, people used to ward off ghosts in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Northern France by blazing sacrifice bonfires and - you guessed it - dressing up to fool the spirits.
Trick-or-treating has existed since medieval times.
It's not a brand-new custom to accept candy from total strangers on one night a year (and only that one night!). It was referred to as "guising" back then in Scotland and Ireland.
Young people donned costumes and knocked on doors in search of food or cash in exchange for singing or performing other "tricks."
Nowadays, the custom has changed to involve kids dressing up and begging for candy. Nowadays, very few people perform for their sweets, but a simple "thank you" can go a long way.
Some Halloween rituals used to involve finding a husband.
The purpose of the Halloween rituals created by unmarried women in the 18th century was to aid them in finding a loving partner.
Women formerly threw apple peels over their shoulders in the hopes of seeing their future husband's initials in the pattern when they landed, according to History.com.
When they bobbed for apples at parties, the winner would supposedly marry first. They even used to hold a candle in front of a mirror while standing in a dark room as they searched for the image of their future husband.
Harry Houdini, the famous magician, passed away on Halloween night in 1926.
This famous magician is known for being a master of escape. Harry Houdini fascinated many and made a permanent name for himself with his illusions and stunts.
In 1926, he passed away from a ruptured appendix. However, many speculate the true cause of his death to this day.
The Irish also brought us jack-o'-lanterns.
According to legend, an Irishman named Stingy Jack deceived the devil and was therefore barred from entering heaven or hell, so he spent his days wandering the Earth carrying a lantern, hence the name "Jack of the Lantern."
Tell the kids about it when you go shopping for seasonal squash, and try not to get goosebumps when you carve your own pumpkins this year.
The fastest pumpkin carving only took 16.47 seconds.
New Yorker Stephen Clarke, who carved his speedy lantern in October 2013, holds the honor from the Guinness Book of World Records.
The jack-o-lantern needed to include a full face, including eyes, a nose, a mouth, and ears, in order to win the title. There was no mention of the expression being funny or frightful.
A city in Canada banned teens over 16 from trick-or-treating.
Anyone caught trick-or-treating in Bathurst, Canada, above the age of 16 might be fined up to $200, according to the CBC. Everybody in the city is subject to a curfew, thus on Halloween, nobody under the age of 16 is permitted to leave the house after 8 p.m. The regulations were put in place as a result of a spate of pranks to prevent nighttime mischief.
The Headless Horseman isn't linked to Halloween
Though everyone associates Halloween with “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” the original Washington Irving short story doesn’t mention Halloween even once. It’s the 1949 Disney movie, “The Headless Horseman,” that makes the connection between the two.
In Hong Kong, Halloween is known as The Festival of the Hungry Ghosts.
Hong Kong natives refer to Halloween as Yu Lan, believing it as a time where the gates of hell open to unleash spirits that haunt the living.
As a result, the typical Yu Lan practice includes offering food to ancestors, so they may appease malignant spirits who walk among them. This is believed to bring peace to the family as well until the next celebration.
It wasn't always called "Halloween"
There are several theories about the origin of the word “Halloween.” According to the Oxford English Dictionary, "Halloween" stems from “All Hallow’s Eve.” However, in 1773, the Scottish began calling it, “Hallow-e’-en.”
Then, a few years later, poet Robert Burns put the words together in the poem titled “Halloween” and we’ve been writing it that way ever since.
The fear of Halloween is called Samhainophobia.
You may or may not be shocked that there is a dread of Halloween itself given that the event is mostly around horror.
Samhainophobia has its origins in prehistoric paganism, which was practiced by Celtic druids. This phobia is defined by an abnormally strong fear of Halloween and anything associated with the holiday.
Canton, Ohio has the largest haunted house in the world.
Known as the Factory of Terror, this Ohio destination has made a name for itself as a premier haunted attraction. Founded in 2002, the Factory of Terror has since attracted thousands of people from all over the world.
Holding the Guinness World Record for the largest haunted house in the world, the Factory of Terror features five separate themes that people can choose from.
The holiday of Halloween was also influenced by ancient Roman festivals like Pomona.
Halloween was influenced by many Roman fall festivals combined with Samhain traditions. Among these Roman influences are the Roman goddess of fruit and vegetation Panama, who inspired the practice of apple bobbing and pumpkin carving.
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