We know Halloween to be many things. From pumpkin everything to candy to scary costumes to making even a dead person into something sexy, Halloween is a very interesting tradition celebrated. Did you ever wonder... Where do these things come from? Well, luckily, I have some answers and ways you can incorporate these into your Halloween plans.
1. Embrace the hair!
We think that Halloween started in Ireland. So, that means if you have red hair (like me) you are already celebrating the history and tradition! Embrace that hair and say you are going as a founder of Halloween (even if you aren't actually Irish). Use that hair to your advantage!
2. Hopefully you don't have Samhnainophobia
Samhainophobia is having a terrible fear of Halloween. Apparently this exists. Coming from a person whose favorite holiday is Halloween, it's hard to believe anyone would have a fear of a holiday where people dress up as terrifying things, participate in getting scared for fun and have myths and legends about dead people roaming around on Halloween. Weird, huh?
3. A witch isn't a bad thing
The word "witch" comes from an Old English word that translates to "wise woman." So, being called a witch doesn't have to be a bad thing. Thank them kindly for calling you a wise woman. In fact, Wiccans were very respected people back in their glory days and were thought to have held one of their main meetings on Halloween night. So, celebrate your witchy-ness.
4. Now that we understand a witch isn't such a bad thing...
Apparently, according to a tradition, if you put your clothes on backwards and walk backwards on Halloween, you will see a witch! Keep on celebrating that witchy-ness!
5. Jack-O-Lanterns
Jack-o-lanterns were originally made from carved turnips. I understand that pumpkins are God's gift to this world, but let's bring back the old turnip carving trend. It's less messy, more affordable and they are cute little guys! Save a pumpkin, carve a turnip.
6. Why do we dress up?
Did you ever wonder why we wear masks and dress up for Halloween? Despite popular opinion, it is not to wear police women outfits and cute bunny outfits for the heck of it. The ancient Celts believed that spirits and the dead were able to roam freely during Halloween night. Of course, this was scary and they didn't want to be recognized as human. So, they decided to put on masks and costumes to hide the fact that they were human. Little did you know while you were dressing up in that maid costume or banana costume for Halloween, you are protecting yourself from roaming dead people! The more you know.
7. You're participating in history
Halloween is over 6,000 years old! That means it started in about 4000 BC! So, next time someone gives you crap for wanting to dress up, trick-or-treat or eat candy on this day, just remind them you are participating in a 6,000 year old tradition.
8. Runner-up to Christmas
Halloween is the second most commercially grossing and advertised holiday (next to Christmas). We sure love our happy holiday of Christmas as much as we love getting down with the spooky and scary!
9. Black and orange are the new orange
The colors associated with Halloween — black and orange — symbolize very specific things. Orange symbolizes strength and endurance while black symbolizes dark and darkness since Halloween was a festival that helped to distinguish the difference between life and death.
10. The new Tinder
Scottish girls thought that if they hung a wet sheet in front of a fire on Halloween, that they would see their future husband and if they walked downstairs and looked into a mirror they would see their boyfriend's faces. I know this is a stretch, but it certainly is a twist if you get bored with tinder!
11. If you live in Alabama, don't dress up as a priest
Save that costume for a different state! It's illegal in Alabama.
Many more fun facts can be found on here and here, but these are some to keep in mind as you are celebrating this spooky, beautiful holiday that is Halloween!
