Tomorrow is Halloween, Harris’s favorite holiday. I like it myself – the candy is great, I love to ponder a costume, and the decorations are marvelous. And since I grew up in Mississippi, I have memories of both shivering and sweating in my costume – it’s just how we roll down here.
Kell and I don’t have (human) kids, so we won’t be doing the trick-or-treating thing, but this is our first Halloween in our new house! In fact, we closed on Halloween a year ago, so it’s an extra special day for us. Anywho, aside from dressing up and handing out candy, I don’t know a whole lot about this spooky holiday. Here are 13 fun facts about Halloween so you can impress your friends.
1. The term Halloween, originally spelled Hallowe’en, is shortened from All Hallows' Eve. It is now known as "Eve of" All Saints' Day, which is November 1st, historically a time of pagan festivities.
Kell and I don’t have (human) kids, so we won’t be doing the trick-or-treating thing, but this is our first Halloween in our new house! In fact, we closed on Halloween a year ago, so it’s an extra special day for us. Anywho, aside from dressing up and handing out candy, I don’t know a whole lot about this spooky holiday. Here are 13 fun facts about Halloween so you can impress your friends.
1. The term Halloween, originally spelled Hallowe’en, is shortened from All Hallows' Eve. It is now known as "Eve of" All Saints' Day, which is November 1st, historically a time of pagan festivities.
2. On All Hallows’ eve, many Irish and Scottish people have traditionally placed a candle on their western window sill to honor the departed.
3. A traditional Irish and Scottish form of divining one's future spouse is to carve an apple in one long strip, then toss the peel over one's shoulder. The peel is believed to land in the shape of the first letter of the future spouse's name.
4. Haunted attractions in the United States bring in an estimate $300–500 million each year.
5. The ancient Celts thought that spirits and ghosts roamed the countryside on Halloween night. They began wearing masks and costumes to avoid being recognized as human.
6. If you see a spider on Halloween, it is the spirit of a loved one watching over you.
7. Halloween candy sales average about 2 billion dollars annually in the United States.
8. Chocolate candy bars top the list as the most popular candy for trick-or-treaters with Snickers #1.
9. Halloween is the 2nd most commercially successful holiday, with Christmas being the first.
10. Over $1.5 billion is spent on costumes each year and more than $2.5 billion on other Halloween paraphernalia.
11. Over 10% of pet owners dress their pets in Halloween costumes
12. More than 35 million pounds of candy corn will be produced this year. That equates to nearly 9 billion pieces – enough to circle the moon nearly 4 times if laid end-to-end.
13. Many people think the pumpkin is a vegetable but in actuality it is a squash fruit related to cucumbers, gherkins, and melons.
Have a safe and delicious Halloween!
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