Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

History of Halloween 2017: 3 Fast Facts

History of Halloween 2017: 3 Fast Facts

The history of Halloween begins with the pagan holiday of "Samhain" and continues to the arrival of immigrants in the U.S. Learn about its origins here. Two thousand years ago the Celts occupied the area that is now Ireland, all of the United Kingdom, and northern France...


1. The Ancient Celtic Origins of Halloween

The ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain (pronounced "sow-in") marked the ending of harvest, and the beginning of winter, their New Year, and the darker half of the year. The Celts associated winter with the death that comes before renewal, and believed that the on the night before their new year the boundary (veil) between this world and the dead (Otherworld) was thinnest.

On this night the spirits of the dead could cross over and interact with the living once more. The people would light bonfires and wear costumes, typically made from animals heads and skins, to ward of the malevolent spirits threatening their crops.


2. Cultural Appropriation and Coming to America

,"12":0}'>Group of Halloween party goers, early twentieth century. Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images" link="www.gettyimages.com/license/524269823"]

In the 18th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as the religious holiday All Saints Day, co-opting and incorporating many Samhain traditions. The evening before became known as All Hallows Eve, which eventually was shortened to Halloween. Later in the 19th century, Irish immigrants brought their celebration of Halloween to the United States, leading to its national popularity.

Borrowing from Irish and English traditions, particularly from the families giving "soul cakes" to the begging poor during England's All Soul's Day parades, Americans began to go door-to-door while in costume, asking for money or food. This became today's "trick-or-treating."

Cultural movements in the late 19th and early 20th centuries sought to curb vandalism by pranksters, as well as make Halloween more secular and less about the pagan beliefs that once inspired the holiday.


3. Halloween Is the Second Largest Commercial Holiday

Today, Halloween is the country's second largest commercial holiday after Christmas. In the past 3 years, Americans have tripled the amount they spend on Halloween - primarily on costumes, decorations, candy. In fact, one quarter of all candy sold in the United States is for Halloween.

The National Retail Federation has some staggering statistics regarding this year's Halloween spending expectations:

  • 179 million Americans plan on participating
  • $9.1 billion is expected to be spent (up 8.3% from last year)
  • $3.1 on costumes alone
  • $2.7 billion on candy
  • Action and superhero costumes most popular with children
  • Witch costumes most popular for adults
  • 16 percent will dress pets in costumes

Read more: Halloween Was Once So Dangerous That Some Cities Considered Banning It

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

H/T: History.com, National Retail Federation

More from News

Vivian Wilson
@vivllainous/Instagram

Elon Musk's Trans Daughter Just Made Her Drag Debut At An Anti-ICE Fundraiser—And Fans Are Obsessed

Elon Musk's disowned trans daughter Vivian Jenna Wilson has made a name for herself online for mercilessly dragging the father who once said she was "dead" to him because she was "killed by the woke mind virus."

But recently she took it to a new level, leveraging her fame in her first drag performance at a Los Angeles anti-ICE fundraiser.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

Trump Administration Fast-Tracks Eliminating National Suicide Hotline's LGBTQ+ Youth Support

On Wednesday morning, news broke that the administration of MAGA Republican President Donald Trump was eliminating certain suicide and self harm resources provided through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

The lifeline offered callers options to speak to people who specialize in meeting their needs. But the Trump administration decided this was a service that LGBTQ+ young people don't deserve.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Trump Blasted For Announcing New Additions To The White House Lawn As Global Tensions Escalate

President Donald Trump was criticized after announcing that two new flagpoles would be added to the North and South Lawns of the White House—not the greatest look amid heightened global unease as tensions between Israel and Iran ramp up.

According to the Associated Press, Trump watched as a crane installed the newest flagpole on the South Lawn, remarking, “It’s such a beautiful pole.” He later returned to the site to salute as the American flag was raised for the first time.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Donald Trump from CNN supercut
CNN

Trump Mocked For 'Two Weeks' Iran Deadline With Supercut Of All His 'Two Weeks' Promises

President Donald Trump has a history of promising to resolve problems within "two weeks," and a new viral supercut mocks him for all the times he's said as much—including right now with tensions in the Middle East higher than ever.

Trump said Thursday he will decide within two weeks whether to involve U.S. forces directly in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, citing what he called a “substantial chance” for renewed nuclear negotiations with Tehran.

Keep ReadingShow less
red flag with pole on seashore
Seoyeon Choi on Unsplash

People Break Down The 'Silent Red Flags' Folks Tend To Ignore In Relationships

A red flag has come to mean any warning sign in life, in addition to the literal red flags that are placed on beaches or industrial sites to warn people of danger.

People will respond to situations by saying, "That’s a red flag." But before that language evolved, they'd just call them "warning signs."

Keep ReadingShow less