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As a Halloween expert with a PhD in witchology, I’m excited to share fascinating insights. These 12 Halloween tidbits and intriguing facts explore the holiday’s essence, from pumpkin traditions and black cat lore to quirky novelty tunes. Isn’t that the true spirit of Halloween?
The origins of Halloween traditions remain somewhat unclear.
The mysterious beginnings of Halloween are oddly fitting. Many references claim the holiday traces back to the ancient Celtic and Druid festival of Samhain, celebrated in Ireland, England, and Northern France roughly 2,000 years ago. Over time, the Church adapted these festivities into "All Hallow's Day" and "All Hallow's Eve." It’s a compelling tale, but is it historically accurate?
Some modern historians argue that the connection between Celtic festivities and early Christian customs is weak, suggesting that medieval Christian festivals are the true foundation of the holiday. It’s a complex topic. For a deeper dive, check out my Real History of Halloween.
Trick-or-treating originated in Canada
Canada, often referred to as America's hat, is where trick-or-treating began. The practice of visiting neighbors during holidays and requesting treats has earlier ties to the European custom of "wassailing," though that was associated with Christmas. The first documented mention of trick-or-treating linked to Halloween appeared in a Kingston, Ontario newspaper in 1911. From there, it gradually spread across the continent. It wasn’t until the late 1930s that it was mentioned in a U.S. national publication, and it truly gained popularity in the early 1950s after being featured in a Peanuts comic strip and a Disney cartoon.
Early Halloween greetings that didn’t catch on
While saying "trick or treat" at the door is now a Halloween staple, it wasn’t always the norm. During the early days of candy-seeking in Canada, children experimented with various phrases to coax treats from neighbors. Here are some of the less successful attempts, ranked from least to most amusing:
"Halloween apples!" Awful. Who craves apples on Halloween?
"Charity, please!" Improved. The emotional appeal works well.
“Shell out!” Brilliant. Straightforward and effective. Some kids even added, "Shell out, shell out, or we'll break your windows out," which takes it up a notch.
Elizabeth Krebs: The grumpy pioneer of Halloween
Elizabeth Krebs from Hiawatha, Kansas, is a little-known Halloween hero, though she wasn’t particularly fond of kids. As the founder of the Hiawatha Garden Club, Krebs adored her flowers. However, in early 1900s Kansas, local teens celebrated “mischief night” by wreaking havoc across town, often ruining Krebs’ meticulously tended gardens.
Channeling the resilient spirit of the Midwest, Krebs tackled the vandalism with creativity by organizing the first-ever Halloween parade in the U.S. The 1914 Hiawatha Halloween Frolic included a parade, costume competition, treats, and music, all designed to divert young troublemakers from destroying Krebs’ beloved flowers. The idea caught on, and Halloween parades and festivities spread nationwide, so you can thank Krebs for your local parade. Or perhaps thank the mischievous kids who trampled her garden.
Concerns about Halloween candy being tampered with are greatly exaggerated
Every Halloween, I inspect my child’s candy for anything suspicious, even though I know it’s unnecessary. The thought of him biting into an apple concealing a razor blade is so terrifying that it overrides reason. However, this fear is largely unfounded. Despite warnings from federal authorities and numerous anecdotal accounts, there has never been a verified case of a drug dealer lacing Halloween candy with LSD, fentanyl, or other illegal substances. (One notable exception occurred in 1959 when Dr. William Shyne, a Long Island dentist, handed out candy-coated laxatives to children for reasons he never clarified.) Similarly, incidents involving needles or razor blades are exceedingly rare. In 2000, there was a single case of a man hiding needles in candy, but given that trick-or-treating has been around for over a century, such occurrences are exceptionally isolated.
Halloween: The iconic film
John Carpenter’s Halloween, released in 1978, revolutionized the horror genre, giving rise to the “slasher” films that dominated the 1980s. Made on a modest budget of $300,000, it earned over $47 million (equivalent to about $150 million today), making it one of the most profitable independent films of all time. The success of Halloween led to 12 official sequels (though some fans argue that Halloween III doesn’t belong, as it revolves around Halloween but lacks ties to the original storyline) and inspired countless imitators.
Christmas was once the holiday for ghost stories
While ghost stories and horror movies are now synonymous with Halloween, Christmas was actually the preferred time for spooky tales in Victorian England.
In 1891, Jerome K. Jerome observed that whenever a small group of English speakers gathers around a fire on Christmas Eve, they inevitably share ghost stories. Interestingly, even though 'A Christmas Carol,' one of the most iconic holiday tales, is essentially a ghost story, this tradition has largely faded away.
Is it true that black cats are sacrificed by witches or satanists during Halloween?
In the past, animal shelters and humane societies often imposed restrictions on adopting cats, particularly black ones, around Halloween. This practice was influenced by fears that individuals involved in pagan, satanic, or witchcraft practices might adopt these cats for sacrificial rituals during Samhain.
While it might seem thrilling to imagine such dark rituals, the reality is far less dramatic. Satanists, who generally appreciate cats, do not engage in adopting or abducting black cats during this season. In fact, those who have encountered satanists at social gatherings often describe them as quite mundane. The myth likely originates from medieval tales associating witches with black cat familiars.
Another reason cited by some pet adoption centers for restricting black cat adoptions around Halloween is the concern that these animals might be used as temporary Halloween decorations and then abandoned afterward. However, there is little to no documented evidence to support this claim, suggesting it may be more rumor than reality.
You’ve been misled about pumpkins.
Contrary to popular belief, pumpkins are not vegetables. They are fruits, and more specifically, they are classified as berries.
Pumpkins develop from the seed-bearing part of flowering plants, which categorizes them as fruits. In botanical terms, berries are described as simple, fleshy fruits containing multiple seeds, a definition that perfectly fits pumpkins.
Illinois reigns as the pumpkin capital of America.
Halloween falls right in the heart of decorative gourd season, motherfuckers, and Illinois dominates as the primary source of pumpkins, the holiday’s favorite gourd. The state outpaces California, its closest competitor, by producing double the number of pumpkins, including both decorative and culinary varieties.
Certain pumpkins can reach weights comparable to a Toyota Corolla.
Without casting judgment, it’s fascinating that some individuals dedicate their lives to cultivating enormous pumpkins. The record-breaking pumpkin, grown by Italian enthusiast Stefano Cutrupi, weighed an astounding 2,702 pounds. This colossal fruit was showcased at the Big Pumpkin Festival in Peccioli, Italy, in 2021, where it claimed the top prize. (I make it a point to attend this festival every year.)
Exploring “The Monster Mash,” the unofficial anthem of Halloween
Unlike Christmas carols, Halloween-themed songs never gained widespread popularity, leaving “The Monster Mash” as the holiday’s closest equivalent. (Rockwell’s “Somebody’s Watching Me” might also be a contender.) Created during the 1960s monster craze, Bobby “Boris” Pickett wrote and performed the song to showcase his talent for mimicking monsters and to parody the dance craze tunes of the era. Released in 1962, “Monster Mash” soared to the top of the Billboard charts and made reappearances in 1970 and 1973.
Although Pickett continued producing novelty tracks into the 2000s, none matched the success of his original hit. His 1960s follow-ups included songs like:
“Monster’s Holiday”
“Monster Motion”
“Blood Bank Blues”
“Me and My Mummy”
“Werewolf Watusi”
“The Monster Swim”
Pickett’s later works include 1985’s “Monster Rap,” 1993’s “It’s Alive,” and 2005’s “Monster Slash.”
The latest Halloween craze: Dressing up pets
The future of Halloween seems to revolve around pets in costumes, like a pug dressed as a dandelion. Nowadays, everyone is getting in on the trend of outfitting their pets. In 2020, 18% of Americans reported plans to dress up their animals, up from 12% in 2012. The National Retail Federation estimates that annual spending on pet costumes is nearing half a billion dollars.
While most people find dogs and cats in costumes adorable, some veterinarians caution against the practice. A representative from the British Vet Association stated, “Dressing up animals or altering their appearance unnaturally is unnecessary, potentially harmful, and can interfere with their ability to express natural behaviors and communicate through body language.”
However, it’s undeniably cute, and trust me, your cat absolutely adores sporting a silly hat.
