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If you've watched any supernatural shows, you might notice that some characters use salt as a way to protect themselves against frightening spirits — and there's a pretty good reason why. Some say that salt acts as a "protective shield against evil spirits and malevolent entities" and has been a practice dating back to ancient times. Even if you're not a true believer, it can't hurt to sprinkle a bit on your doorstep should any unwelcome visitors stop by on Halloween night.
The villainous serial killer from the infamous Friday the 13th franchise remains at the bottom of a Minnesota lake in statue form. Diver Doug Klein constructed a Jason Vorhees statue, mask and all, made of plywood, bubble wrap and foam and had it placed 120 feet down in a water-filled mine pit known as Louise near Crosby, Minnesota. It's only able to be seen by the most advanced divers.
According to The State, a newspaper published in Columbia, South Carolina, back in 2022 a city in Horry County called Conway announced that for the month of October they would be renamed the "city of Halloween," in an effort to "boost tourism and economic development during the fall season." Since 2022, they have continued to do so every October, with each yearly celebration getting more and more festive by increasing the seasonal events, decor and activities all month long.
A 2021 YouGov poll found that about one in five adults (or 21% of participants) keep the porch lights off and pretend not to be home when the trick-or-treaters come knocking — a number that radio station WBIW alleges has increased since, with the number more accurately being reported as 25% percent in 2023.
Instead, kids would allegedly yell, "Belsnickel!". According to the Library of Congress, historians argue that the modern call originated from "belsnickeling," a German-American Christmas tradition where kids dressed in costumes and went around to their neighbors to see if they could guess the identity of those dressed up. In some versions, if the adults couldn't accurately guess, the children were rewarded with treats and goodies.
The Library of Congress reports that the colors of black and orange trace back to the Celtic festival of Samhain, a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter — or the "darker half" of the year. Thus, black represents the "death" of summer while orange represents the life of the fall harvest.
Nothing quite adds to the energy of a great Halloween night than a dark sky and a full moon shining among it. But since they are so rare, according to NASA, you're only likely to see one every 19 years. Oh well, if anything that makes one on Halloween night even more special!
Halloween is even older than Christianity itself. It all started as a pre-Christian Celtic festival called Samhain, which means "summer's end." Held in the beginning of November, the feast recognized the last day of the fall harvest and spirits crossing over, since they believed the veil between the living and spirit world grew thinnest at that time. People in Ireland, the United Kingdom and Northern France used to ward off ghosts by lighting sacrificial bonfires, and – you guessed it – wearing costumes to trick the spirits, according to History.com.
Taking candy from strangers one night a year (and one night only!) isn't a new or uniquely American tradition. It once was known as "guising" in Scotland and Ireland. Young people dressed up in costumes and went door-to-door looking for food or money in exchange for performing songs, poems or other "tricks." Today, the tradition has morphed into children getting dressed up and asking for candy. Hardly anyone sings for their mini Snickers these days — but a simple "thank you" will go a long way.
During the 18th century, single ladies devised Halloween traditions that were supposed to help them meet their romantic match. According to History.com, women used to throw apple peels over a shoulder, hoping to see their future husband’s initials in the pattern they made when they landed. When bobbing for apples at parties, the winner would supposedly marry first. Most spookily, they even used to stand in a dark room, holding a candle in front of a mirror to look for their future husband’s face to appear in the glass. Bloody Mary who?