Unpopular fact: Halloween is the most underrated holiday of the year. If you toss aside the candy and costumes, you’ll see its origins are way more spooky than it gets credit for. As a Halloween enthusiast, I want to share some fun, interesting facts about Halloween with you.
Candy Corn was originally called Chicken Feed: You either love it or hate it, and this name does not help its cause by any means. In the late 1880s this sugary corn was originally going to be called “Chicken Feed” because the shape resembled the corn chickens ate. The name was short-lived and did not make it to production.
Dressing up in costume was once a way to hide from ghosts: Celtics and other Europeans began this tradition as a way to hide from returning spirits during the month of October. After dark, people would venture out of their homes in masks in an attempt to trick spirits into thinking they were also ghosts.
The Michael Meyers mask is actually a William Shatner mask: Everyone knows who Michael Meyers is from the classic thriller, Halloween. The original film was on a very tight budget and spray painted a $2 Star Trek Captain James Kirk mask (played by William Shatner) white and reshaped his eyes to create the iconic creepy pale face that is now what the world recognizes as Michael Meyers.
Halloween is a melting pot of cultures: According to History.com this spooky holiday started during the Celtic end-of-harvest festival of Samhain. During Samhain, people would dress up in costume and light bonfires to ward off evil spirits.
During the eighth century, Pope Gregory III named November 1st as a day to honor all saints. Shortly after, All Saints Day integrated some Samhain traditions. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later on Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into the holiday we know today with trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins, and gathering around a bonfire with friends.
Halloween is for lovers: Who knew Halloween had a romantic side? The New York Times explains that in the early 20th century, Halloween activities often played upon women’s pursuit of love. One game involved cutting an apple skin off and tossing it over her shoulder, with the landed peel said to indicate the first initial of her future suitor.
Happy Halloween, Indianapolis! Stay safe and spooky!
