Halloween is one of the best times of the year. People get dressed up as all sorts of things and there’s a ton of sweets and treats to be eaten, not to mention loads of horror films to watch. It might not be as big as Christmas, but it’s certainly a lot of fun and something to look forward to once summer draws to a close. Here are 8 facts about Halloween you probably never knew.
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A thimble in a cake would bring bad luck
A colonial American tradition involved baking a Halloween cake with various things hidden inside it that would supposedly tell the future. If you happened to bite into the cake and find a thimble, not only would your teeth hurt immensely, you’d have bad luck for years to come.
2. People used to carve turnips
Before it became commonplace to carve scary things into pumpkins, people would do so with turnips instead. When Irish immigrants travelled to America, they would carve things into pumpkins instead as pumpkins were cheaper than turnips.
3. Origin of the word ‘witch’
Believe it or not, the word ‘witch’ actually comes from the Old English word ‘wicce’, meaning ‘wise woman’.
4. Scared of Halloween?
If Halloween is too much for you, you probably have Samhainophobia. The term is derived from the Celtic word ‘Samhuin’, meaning ‘All Hallow’s Eve’.
5. First mention of trick-or-treating
The act of trick-or-treating was first mentioned in print as far back as 1927 in the Canadian hamlet of Blackie.
6. The birthplace of Halloween
Though Halloween is widely regarded as an American invention, it’s actually widely thought to have originated in Ireland.
7. Want to see a witch?
There are many popular urban myths and legends to do with Halloween. One of them has it that if you wear your clothes inside-out and walk backwards on Halloween, at midnight you’ll see a witch.
8. Scary pets
Every year, around 11.5% of pet owners buy Halloween costumes for their beloved pets and dress them up.