After Christmas, it is Halloween falling in late October, which is widely celebrated in America. It is a known fact that the festival commemorates the end of summer as well as the start of the winter. In the past, it was deemed that the spirits of the dead came back to spoil the crops and play pranks on the living on this eve. But today, Halloween is a very cheerful and fanciful festival carrying forward the ghoulish tradition. The United States of America spends more than $4 million in every year for celebrating this fiesta. But there are many things that people yet do not about this gala. So, here are top 10 facts you probably do not know about Halloween.
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10 – Halloween is derived from Samhain
The most whimsical festival of Halloween has its roots in Samhain – the Celtic festival and an Old Irish phrase that means the end of summer. This is why it is also celebrated as the Celtic New Year. According to the legend, the Celts are of the opinion that the boundary between the other world and this world tend to become thin on this day due to which spirits tend to pass through. This is the reason why the ancestors are pleased on this day and dangerous spirits are overcome by wearing masks. By the way, did you know that Samhain is pronounced as SOW-win?
9 – The First Jack-O-Lanterns Were Turnips
Yes! They were hollowed-out turnips, beets, or potatoes. Today, the Jack-O-Lanterns are made from pumpkins!
8 – The Jack O’ Lanterns Can Tell Your Future
This is actually a superstition! Candles in this lantern protect you from spirits but if you look into the flame, you can see your future. However, for this, you will have to light up a new orange candle right from midnight that keeps burning until sunrise for good luck.
7 – Halloween Can Bring Several Phobias
Did you know an intense but continuous fear can trigger panic attacks in the susceptible? Well, this is known as samhainophobia. Some more phobias that can hit kids are wiccaphobia that marks fear of witches, coimetrophobia that comes from observing the cemeteries, and phasmophobia that comes from ghosts.
6 – Halloween is Also the Name of a Family of Genes
Yes! The Halloween genes are seen in fruit flies, which are essential for embryonic development.
5 – Apple Bobbing Began in Britain
In the 1500s and 1600s, several Halloween traditions in Britain lost their importance. However, some rituals such as apple bobbing are still being played in various parts of the U.S. In this game, apples are made to float in a bowl filled with water, which are then held through the mouth. Then, when mouth-held apple is thrown from the left shoulder, its peel is believed to fall such that the shape represents the true lover’s initials.
4 – Black and Orange are Traditional Colors
The traditional Halloween colors have symbolic meanings. Black symbolizes darkness (may be the dark winter time), while orange represents the harvest.
3 – Trick-or-Treating had Originated in England
Although trick-or-treating is an American tradition now, it actually dates back to the initial All Souls’ Day parades that used to be held in England. On this festive day, it was believed that the unprivileged citizens used to beg for food, and that the donators who were families gave them pastries that were famous as soul cakes. However, they asked the poor people to promise them to pray for the dead ones of the family.
2 – Halloween Candies Can be harmful for your Health
Consuming candies in more quantities increases the intake of sweeteners and sorbitol, which can trigger the medical condition of diarrhea. This is the reason why many people have introduced the nicknames such as ‘Wicked Diarrhea’ and ‘Halloween Diarrhea’. Furthermore, the black licorice in the candy is also help responsible for the increased risk of heart failure. Even the FDA has warned about the risk of black licorice overdose. It has revealed that black licorice is rich in a sweetening compound called glycyrrhizin whose more intake can lead to reduced potassium levels, thus, leading to hypertension, abnormal heart rhythms, and congestive heart failure. Therefore, the FDA recommends consuming only two ounces of black licorice per day.
Apart from these two risks, it has been found that the candies for kids contain harmful items. In 2000, a candy manufacturer in Minnesota was detained for instilling needles in Snickers. Further, in 2008, it was found that the lollipops contained metal fragments and blades. Therefore, it is better to prepare Halloween candies at home so that you are at least convinced that the sweets are healthy and risk-free.
1 – Halloween Shows the Wicked Angles of Children
Masks, trick-or-treating, and candies are vital for any kid to celebrate the festival but they all can help in fostering a criminal behavior as well. Because masked kids are less likely to be identified by others, their tendency towards performing wicked tricks can be on the rise on that dark night! For example, such masked kids can tend to enjoy more candies than instructed! Obviously, they can only enjoy so by stealing! Similarly, kids can enter into tricks that can increase the fear levels in other kids in groups. Many studies have been done on the increased robbing power in kids during the eve of Halloween.
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