10 Freaky Facts about Halloween

Gina BrehmerEvents

Get ready ghouls and gals—Halloween is here! It’s no mystery that this annual night of fright is jam-packed with costumes, candy and spooky décor, but how much do you really know about Halloween? Check out these 10 freaky facts that’ll make you the brainiest of the bunch on All Hallow’s Eve. You might be surprised at what you find!

Sweet Spot

Look out Valentine’s Day! When it comes to candy sales, more than twice as much chocolate is sold for Halloween compared to Valentine’s Day; 90 pounds of chocolate are sold during Halloween week alone. a

 Feeling Corny

Since its invention in 1898 by the Herman Goelitz Confectionery Co. of Fairfield, Calif., (now known as the Jelly Belly Candy Co.), candy corn has been riotously popular—so much so that today, more than 35 million pounds of candy corn are produced each year. In fact, October 30th is National Candy Corn Day! b

Money Bags

From its vampy costumes and sweet treats to ghoulish household decorations, Halloween is big business. So big, in fact, that it’s the second-largest commercial holiday in America—only Christmas surpasses it in sales. c

Super-Sized

No matter how scary your local haunted house is, it probably can’t top The “Factory of Terror” haunted house in Canton, Ohio. It measures 4,951 feet long, and Guinness World Records named it the world’s longest haunted house on September 17, 2014. Even spookier: It is located in an actual abandoned factory – I think I’ll pass! d

Smarty Pants

The word “witch” comes from the Old English wicce, meaning “wise woman.” In fact, Wiccan were highly respected people at one time. According to popular belief, witches held one of their two main meetings, or sabbats, on Halloween night. e

The Illusionist

Harry Houdini became America’s favorite magician and a world-renown legend for his daring escapes. It was only fitting, then, for this master trickster to die on October 31, 1926—from a ruptured appendix. f

Great Gourds

According to a press release by the New York Botanical Garden, Tim and Susan Mathison from California have grown a squash that weighs 2,032 pounds! g

The Origin

Ireland is believed to be the birthplace of Halloween. It was originally a Celtic festival called Samhain which celebrated the harvest. c

Knock Knock…

Trick-or-treating evolved from the ancient Celtic tradition of putting out treats and food to placate spirits who roamed the streets at Samhain, a sacred festival that marked the end of the Celtic calendar year. f

No Teen Spirit

In 2010, Belleville, Illinois, became the latest city to ban trick-or-treating for kids over 12. Teens can face fines from $100 to $1,000 for going door-to-door! h

Any fun Halloween facts or tidbits you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you!

References
 a  “Chocolate Sales.” The Nielsen Company News Alert. Accessed: April 3, 2009.
b “Candy Corn.”  National Confectioners Association. Accessed: October 25, 2014.
c  Skal, David J. 2002. Death Makes a Holiday: A Cultural History of Halloween. New York, NY: Bloomsbury.
d “Longest walk-through horror house.” Guinness World Records. Accessed October 25, 2014.
e Thompson, Sue Elled, ed. 2003. Holiday Symbols and Customs. 3rd Edition. Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics, Inc.
f Morrow, Ed. 2001. The Halloween Handbook. Secaucus, NJ: Citadel Press.
g “NY Daily News.” Accessed: October 24, 2014.
h “World’s Largest Pumpkin 2013.” Article in Huffington Post. Accessed: October 16, 2013.