Halloween: Some Fun Facts

As we get closer to Halloween, I figured it would be a fun idea to read into the history of this beloved holiday! We carve pumpkins, go bobbing for apples, wear costumes, and go trick or treating, but where did it all begin? Here are a few fun facts:

• Halloween originated from the Celtic Samhain festival. With the integration of other cultures and the changing of time, we got the Halloween that we experience today!

• It was believed that Halloween was the night that the spirits of the dead could cross over into the land of the living.

• Lighting bonfires was one of the ways the Celtic people celebrated Samhain. The word bonfire originated from the term “bone fire” which was the practice of burning the bones of animals to ward off evil spirits.

• People would wear costumes when going out so that spirits would leave them alone.

Those are just a few examples of the origins of Halloween! If you would like to learn more then you can visit the History Channel’s website at: https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween#:~:text=The%20tradition%20originated%20with%20the,of%20the%20traditions%20of%20Samhain.

Or you can check out Lisa Morton’s Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween

So, what are your favorite Halloween traditions? Do they inspire any cool ideas for a story? Let us know in the comments below or on our Facebook page!

And remember, you deserve fun this Halloween! Enjoy the spooky full moon and whatever festivities come your way! You’ve earned it!

This Blog Posting was approved by Hagar (office cat extraordinaire).