Halloween

What do you call the spooky season? Some might say “All Hallows Eve” or “All Saints Day,” but most call it Halloween. Either way, the October 31 day goes by many names; it is the most beloved holiday in our country. But even though you have probably celebrated your whole life, there may be a lot you don’t know about Halloween

  • There is a reason why black and orange are associated with Halloween. Orange signifies the harvest of autumn, while black is a symbol of darkness and acts as a reminder that Halloween was a festival that marked the boundaries between life and death
  • Scarecrows symbolize the ancient agricultural roots of the holiday. The greek farmers created the first scarecrow. Crows being the primary culprit is how the name originated
  • Irish immigrants brought Halloween to the US during the mid-1800s. When a flood of Irish immigrants fled Ireland during the great potato famine, they brought the tradition of Halloween with them
  • The name Jack O’ Lantern is rooted in Irish folklore about a man named Stingy Jack. The legend goes that he fooled the devil and, in turn, was forced to walk the earth with only a lump of burning coal in a hollowed turnip to light his way. So the Irish began to call him Jack of the Lantern, which became Jack O’ Lantern.
  • Candy wasn’t given out until about the 1950s. There was a time when trick or treat didn’t give out candy but instead pieces of cake, fruit, nuts, coins, and small toys. In 1950 the candy makers began to promote their goods for Halloween, so the tradition of candy to trick or treaters began.
  • Did you know that skittles is America’s favorite candy? And you may be able to guess the least favorite- Candy Corn.