20 Interesting Facts About Halloween

DURAND, Mich., – Halloween is one of the most widely celebrated holidays around the world. In the United States alone, over 70% of Americans plan on participating on Halloween or other Halloween activities this year, but very few people know the origins of Halloween or why people carve jack-o-lanterns from pumpkins. Find out for yourself about how Halloween began and more with these 20 interesting facts about Halloween!

1. Halloween began as a Celtic festival for the dead called "Samhain". People at the time believed that Samhain was the day of the dead and that spirits would roam the earth. They would dress as ghosts and demons and leave "treats" on their front porch for the spirits so that they wouldn't be haunted.
2. The Jack-o-Lantern was also started in Ireland, based on the story of the ghost of Stingy Jack. Irish people carved terrifying faces into pumpkins, potatoes, beets, and turnips to scare Stingy Jack and other spirits away from their homes on Halloween.
3. Halloween has been celebrated for over 6,000 years! It is thought to have originated around 4,000 B.C.E., and since then, has become a huge part of global culture.
4. In the Middle Ages, it was customary for trick-or-treaters to have to sing or dance in order to receive their treats. This was a practice known as "mumming" and is still practiced in some parts of Europe!
5. This year, Americans are projected to spend over $618 million on pumpkins!
6. Halloween candy can last a lot longer than you'd think! Chocolates can last up to two years if stored in a dry area, and hard candy can last up to a year. Thankfully, you won't have to eat all of your candy in one day!
7. The reason why bats, black cats, and spiders are common Halloween symbols comes from their ties to old Wiccan rituals. These creatures were usually known as familiars, or servants to witches, and were often associated as omens of bad luck.
8. Americans spend over $6 billion on Halloween annually, coming in second place to Christmas as the most commercial holiday in the United States.
9. Black and orange, the main colors of Halloween, both have symbolic meaning. Orange stands for the strength and endurance of autumn, while black symbolizes death and darkness, paying tribute to Halloween's origin as the day of the dead.
10. Halloween hasn't always been called Halloween or even Samhain. It's gone by several names, like All Hallow's Eve, Witches' Night, Snap-Apple Night, and even Summer's End.
11. In Mexico, the Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 1st instead of October 31st. Participants dress up like the dead and parade down the street in honor of those that have passed on to the next life.
12. Salem, Massachusetts, considers itself the Halloween capital of the world due to its history of the Salem Witch Trials.
13. The Lantern Festival in China is celebrated to commemorate Halloween. Lanterns shaped like dragons are hung throughout streets to guide spirits back to their homes, and families typically leave food and water by their ancestors' portraits to welcome them for the evening.
14. During the original celebrations of Halloween, Irish priests would throw cattle bones onto bonfires to ensure the return of the sun. This practice was known as creating a "bone fire", and over time, "bone fire" became "bonfire", the word we all use today!
15. According to Safe Kids America, children are twice as likely to be involved in car accidents during Halloween. If you're going out, make sure to teach your children about street safety and keep an eye out for vehicles on the road!
16. It is extremely rare for Halloween to occur during a full moon. The next full moon Halloween will take place on 10/31/2020.
17. The number one most sold Halloween candy every year is Snickers.
18. Halloween is the sweetest holiday of the year. Chocolate sold on Halloween doubles the amount sold on Valentine's day. In fact, over $1.9 billion a year is spent on Halloween candy alone in the United States!
19. The largest Halloween parade in the United States takes place in New York. With over 50,000 participants and over 2 million spectators, and anyone can join if they have a costume!
20. The biggest pumpkin in recorded history weighed over 2,624.6 lbs. That's one big jack-o-lantern!

With a storied history stretching across thousands of years, Halloween is one of the most universally recognizable holidays. Learning about these 20 interesting facts about Halloween can give you a new perspective on the impact this holiday has had on the world. One more fun fact about the fall season: did you know that the changing weather of the fall can affect the components of your vehicle? Find out what parts of your vehicle need to be looked at before the temperatures drop with our Fall Car Care guide. If you need to have your vehicle repaired or inspected, call us or schedule a service appointment online. We're happy to help you get your vehicle back up to speed before the snow falls!

Located at 9009 East Lansing Road in Durand, MI 48429, Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand wants to revolutionize your car buying experience. We’ll bring all the transparency and customer satisfaction you need while making the buying experience fun! If you have any questions be sure to contact us at (989) 288-2657 or head over to our website at www.GraffChevyDurand.com! We are proud to serve Durand and the surrounding communities of Owosso, Flint, Genesee Charter Township, Swartz Creek, and Corunna.

Follow us: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, YouTube and Instagram