Halloween Facts That are Spooky Fun

Did you know that passing out candy during trick-or-treating did not become popular until the 1970s? Who knew! Halloween is full of so many time old traditions that are so ingrained into our society and culture, we often do not even actually know their origin and how they came to be an American Halloween tradition. But there is no better time than now to learn all of the fun facts about this haunting holiday as you get ready to celebrate the day. 

So, what did they pass out before candy?

The history of trick-or-treating and candy being the classic treat is actually quite interesting. Trick-or-treating first involved more actual foods, such fruit, nuts, popcorn balls, and more. Plus, you would even sometimes be given little toys or coins. However, in the 1950s, which is when trick-or-treating really started rising in Halloween celebrations, candy companies got the idea to market the holiday by making individually wrapped candies that could conveniently be given out. People really started to enjoy the convenience of this and lose trust in unwrapped food, so by the 1970s candy was the staple Halloween treat! In 2024, it is quite common for people to now offer some other sort of treat in addition to candy, such as little trinkets, to hand out to children with allergies in order to be more inclusive.

Do you always show you are home on Halloween to pass out candy?

Well even if you do not, according to a 2021 YouGov poll, 1 in 5 adults pretend to not be home on the holiday. The sign most often used to suggest this to trick-or-treaters is keeping the lights off and simply ignoring the door if some kids do come knocking. Other surveys conducted in more recent years suggest that this number of adults is increasingly growing, suggesting that this holiday season is possibly slowly fading in significance. 

Here's another one to blow your mind: the Jack-o’-Lantern was not always a pumpkin!

The Jack-o’-Lantern was originally carved into a turnip! How crazy is that! The Halloween staple sight to see and classic holiday activity was not carved into pumpkins until the tradition made its way to the United States. The tradition of carving the turnip started in Ireland, where turnips grow in abundance, and additionally, the origin story of the carving activity is alleged to stem from a story of a carved turnip with a burning lump of coal as light. However, when this made its way to the U.S., we do not grow turnips in the same way as Ireland. So, instead in order to use more abundant resources, people began carving pumpkins, something grown throughout the country. Now, going to pumpkin patches has become a tradition itself, as have a number of competitions surrounding the growth and carving of a pumpkin. 

Halloween is the second largest commercial holiday in the United States.

Can you guess what takes the cake as number one? Here’s a few hints: it is in December; some say there are 12 days of it, while others say there are 25; and you often hear “ho, ho, ho.” That is right, it is Christmas! According to the National Retail Federation, Christmas is the number one commercial holiday with Halloween trailing closely behind. In 2022, consumers spent a record of $12.2 billion on Halloween related goods, such as costumes, treats, and decorations. Additionally, a number of places that have regular operations throughout the year have announced that they have the best business during their Halloween theme activities. 

Overall, Halloween is surely a wild holiday full of a lot of great traditions for kids and adults alike. There is a rich history that many have yet to uncover, but we hope we helped inform you of some fun facts surrounding the day. Have a happy and safe Halloween!