by: posted Thursday, October 20, 2011
Category: Everything Else

Here are some frightening (but fun) facts about this wildly fun holiday we call Halloween:

When Christianity came to England, November 1 was designated as All Saints Day (given to those saints who didn’t have a special day of their own).  The evening prior was known as All Hallow E’en and eventually Hallowe’en.

• Orange and black are thought to be the colors of Halloween because the orange is associated with the fall harvest and black is associated with death.
• Did you know that 99% of pumpkins sold are used as Jack O’ Lanterns?
• The first Jack O’ Lantern was a hollowed out turnip.
• If you see a spider on the eve of the Hallows….it could be the spirit of a dead loved one who is watching you.
• A game from Scotland was this:  take off the skin of an apple in one long strip then toss the peel over your shoulder.  The peel will land in the shape of the first letter of the future spouse’s name!
• Unmarried women were told that if they sat in a darkened room and gazed into a mirror on Halloween night, the face of their future husband would appear in the mirror. However, if they were destined to die before marriage, a skull would appear.

With a “Boo!” have a wonderfully spooky and safe Halloween. Remember…if you meet a witch, put your clothes on inside out and walk backwards.  All will be safe.  Oh..and ring a bell.  I hear it scares off the evil spirits!