50 Quick Spooky Halloween Facts

  1. Halloween was originally called “All Hallows Evening”
  2. Pumpkins carved into lanterns are known as “jack o’lanterns”
  3. Dressing up in costumes is often known as “guising”
  4. Halloween costumes are traditionally ones depicting witches, ghosts, devils, and monsters.
  5. Trick or Treat, is a custom in which children go knocking from door to door asking for either a treat which is normally a sweet, or if the house owner does not give a treat the children play a trick on the owner.
  6. Apple bobbing is a game often played at this time, which involves apples floating in water and the participate having to pick them up using only their teeth and mouth.
  7. Candy or Toffee apples are often eaten at this time of year
  8. Halloween is always celebrated on the 31st of October of each year
  9. The first jack o’lanterns were carved out of turnips not pumpkins
  10. It is believed that the traditional colours of black and orange at this time comes from the colour of harvests and autumn for orange, and death for black.
  11. It is said that witches cats are normally black, and that they protect the witches from other forces
  12. It is said that about 99% of all pumpkins sold at this time of year are made into lanterns
  13. It is said that the number 13 is very unlucky...
  14. They say that ringing a bell will scare evil spirits away
  15. It is said that if you put your clothes on inside out and try walking backwards you might meet a witch
  16. It is said that you must always finish a journey on Halloween before sunset....
  17. It is believed that ‘bad things’ like witches cannot cross a line of salt, so use it to keep them out!
  18. It is said that seeing a spider on this might, is actually the spirit of a dead loved one watching over you
  19. Originally the meaning of the trick in ‘trick of treat’ did mean the child would perform a trick for the home owner
  20. In the USA in modern times, around $3billion is spent on Halloween costumes every year
  21. Often the most popular costume for adults at this time is that of a witch, with a vampire coming second
  22. Often the most popular costume for kids at this time of year is a princess, with a witch coming second
  23. The word witch comes from the old English term of meaning “wise women”
  24. The fear of Halloween is called “Samhnainophobia”
  25. It is said if you hear an owl call out on this night it means someone is about to die.....
  26. Before trick or treating, another practise was ‘souling’ in which people went knocking door to door offering prays for the dead and often receiving ‘soul cakes’ from the home owners
  27. Ireland is believed to by the very first place to celebrate and the birthplace of Halloween
  28. The scarecrow which is often seen at Halloween is said to be based on the harvest roots of the celebration
  29. The total spend in the USA alone for Halloween is in excess normally of $6billion
  30. Halloween is believed to have been around in one form or another for around 6000 years
  31. In China they celebrate Halloween with the “Lantern Festive”, in which lanterns in the shape of dragons and other animals are hang around the home
  32. In Hong Kong it is known as the “Festival of the hunger ghosts” and food is left out for the spirits
  33. People often wear masks on Halloween which they believe will stop the spirits of the dead from recognising them
  34. Halloween is second only to Christmas as the most successful commercially celebrated festival
  35. The celebrated magician Harry Houdini died on Halloween in 1926
  36. The name “pumpkin” originally comes from the Greek word “pepon,” which means a large melon.
  37. It is believed the sign of a werewolf is that of a longer middle finger, a unibrow, and hairy palms...
  38. The film Halloween was made in just 21 days with a very small budget
  39. There are no words which rhyme with orange, the colour of Halloween, in the dictionary
  40. It is believed that if you stare into a mirror at midnight you will see the face of your future spouse over your shoulder
  41. Some people believe staring into a flame on Halloween will allow you to be able to see into the future
  42. It is said that if a bat flies around your house three times in succession, it is a sign of death coming to the home
  43. People say you must NEVER turn around if you hear footsteps behind you on Halloween, as it may be DEATH himself coming for you
  44. In England it is thought that WHITE cats not black ones are unlucky on Halloween
  45. “Samhain” was the term originally used by the Irish to name Halloween
  46. Some people believe that originally human sacrifices were made on Halloween thousands of years ago
  47. Whilst in modern times Halloween is all about ghosts and ghouls, originally the festival celebrated the spirits of loved ones lost to death
  48. In Mexico, Mexicans celebrate Halloween as “The Day of the Dead” (El Dia de los Muertos)
  49. Some of the pumpkins people use are very large. The current world record for a giant pumpkin is 1446 pounds, which is a lot of pumpkin....
  50. It is believed that 86% of all homes in the USA are decorated for Halloween