6 Halloween Facts to get you in the Spooky Spirit
Halloween is an annual event dedicated to all things spooky that takes place on October 31st. Your costume is definitely ready, you've arranged a frightening movie night, and you've chosen your pumpkins, but how much do you really know about Halloween? Let’s discover 6 Halloween facts to get you in the spooky spirit.
1. Halloween predates the birth of Christianity.
Halloween's origins can be traced back to the Celtic holiday of Samhain, a pagan religious event.
On the eve of the first day of winter, the pre-Christian event known as "summer's end" takes place. A season when the fields are blanketed in morning frost and bonfires are lit to ward off evil spirits.
The early pagan holiday of Samhain included ceremonial procedures to maintain touch with spirits, and individuals who participated in them veiled themselves to avoid being seen by the spirits.
The frightening undertones of pagan ceremonies tended to fade as Christianity took hold, but they continued to adapt and modernize!
2. Halloween folklore is full of superstition and myth.
It's no secret that Halloween is all about spookiness, mythology, and magic!
Many people believed that Halloween was a time when the spirits of the dead would cross over into the other world in medieval England, and that Halloween was a period when the spirits of the dead wandered the earth long into the nineteenth century! As a result, today's porches are adorned with artificial gravestones and people dress up as the living dead.
Even today, Halloween is rife with superstitions! People still bobble for apples and stay away from black cats, and some people believe that flying bats signify the presence of spirits.
3. A full moon on Halloween is extremely rare.
A full moon shining on Halloween is typically depicted in Halloween images, yet a full moon on Halloween only happens three or four times every century.
On Halloween, the moon is full on average every 19 years, with the most recent occurrence in 2020! As a result, we may have to wait a bit for the next one.
4. Trick-or-treating has been around for a long time.
Trick-or-treating has its origins in the Samhain holiday, when people would set up banquet tables with food left out to appease troublesome spirits.
People began to perform antics in return for food and drink in subsequent eras. This tradition is said to predate trick-or-treating and stretches back to the Middle Ages.
Such customs vanished when Christianity came on Celtic coastlines. During the 9th century, the practice of'souling' grew popular, and poor people would pay visits to affluent people's homes in exchange for soul cakes and prayers for the souls of departed loved ones.
Trick-or-treating had become a little more daring by the 19th century, with trick-or-treaters doing doorstep performances of dancing, singing, and telling jokes in exchange for their treat, a custom known as mumming.
Halloween-themed baked items and mass-produced sugary treats now dominate trick-or-treating. Prayers and performances are no longer required.
5. The fastest pumpkin carving only took 16.47 seconds.
Steve Clarke of Pennsylvania, USA, achieved the record for the fastest pumpkin carving on October 21, 2013.
He finished the jack-face o'-lantern's in just over 16 seconds, including the eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.
Do you have a strong desire for the title? Try your hand at breaking the world record this Halloween!
6. For superstitious reasons, adopting a black cat around Halloween can be more challenging.
While Halloween superstition claims that black cats bring ill luck, we know this to be a complete fabrication! Unfortunately, this does not guarantee that black cats will be adopted easily.
The medieval notion was that they were all witches' pets, whereas today's concern is that they are unfortunate to walk by!
Black cats, on the other hand, are unquestionably lucky! They are, in fact, a symbol of good fortune and prosperity in certain societies. So, if you're looking for a lifelong companion, don't dismiss black cats because of medieval legends!
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