Facts You Might Not Know About Halloween

It's October 31, Halloween - a special holiday for children and adults alike in many parts of the world. Most holidays are to remember famous people and events but this particular one seems to honor ghosts, witches, and other unworldly creatures.

What we know of Halloween now is actually very different from what people thought of this time thousand of years ago. Before, in some parts of the world, November 1 was thought of as the beginning of the New Year. It was also the start of the winter season and called "Summer's End." People back then thought that a war would go on when the seasons change from summer to winter. Summer was the "good" season while winter was "bad" because of the cold and darkness that comes with it. People believed that evil creatures emerge as winter approaches. So, on the eve of November 1, people would dress up in frightening masks and clothes to disguise themselves and keep them safe from all the ghosts, witches, and other creatures that were roaming everywhere. This is also why orange and black are Halloween colors: orange for the Fall harvest and black for death and darkness.

The Jack-o'-lantern was originated in Ireland and is supposed to keep away bad spirits from people's houses. Turnips and beets were originally used for the lanterns. It was only after realizing that pumpkins were more readily available did the people switch to using them. Legend has it that a man named Jack tricked the Devil into promising not to take his soul when he died. He first made the Devil climb a tree and while up there, Jack placed crosses at the base of the tree so the Devil could not climb down. He only removed the crosses after the Devil made his promise not to send him to hell.

When the drunken Jack died, he was not allowed to enter heaven because of his bad ways. He went down to hell but the Devil would not accept him, either, because of the Devil's promise not to take his soul before. Poor Jack was doomed to wander the earth forever. Before he went away, the Devil gave him an ember from the fire to light his way as he wandered. Jack placed the ember in a hollowed out turnip and from then on, roamed the earth restlessly.

Trick or Treating is said to have originated from Irish townspeople who visited neighbors to ask for contributions for the town feast. Another version is that of Irish peasants asking food from the rich, going from door to door. If those people asked refused their request, the peasants would play practical jokes on them. To avoid the pranks, the rich people would comply, giving out food to them.

Once it was a night of terror but now, it's just spooky fun for everyone. Halloween is the second most popular and successful holiday, runner up only to Christmas. Chocolate bars, especially Snickers are the candy bar of choice for trick or treaters. It is also believed that if you see a spider on Halloween, it is the spirit of a departed loved one trying to make contact with you.

Article Resource: Elena Bautista