If you think Halloween is just about candy, costumes, and a whole lot of pumpkin spice, think again. This holiday is packed with centuriesold traditions, eerie legends, and some seriously strange facts. Whether you’re hitting a Halloween bash, passing out candy, or just want to impress your friends, these spooky tidbits will make you the ultimate Halloween expert. Get ready for the thrill of the unknown and the chill of history with these 22 Halloween facts you won’t believe!
1. Jason Voorhees is Chillin’ in a Lake… For Real
This is no movie myth. In the depths of Minnesota’s Crosby Mine Pit, 120 feet down, there’s a lifesized statue of Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th. Yes, the Jason, mask and all. Local artist Doug Klein placed it there as a creepy attraction for divers, complete with a machete. Jason might be fictional, but this eerie underwater tribute makes him feel terrifyingly real. Diving down to see him? That’s nextlevel spooky bravery.
2. Before Trick or Treating, Kids Would Yell… “Belsnickel!”
Before “trick or treat!” became the goto phrase, GermanAmerican kids in the U.S. would shout “Belsnickel!” This unique tradition was inspired by “belsnickeling,” where kids would dress up and go doortodoor, and neighbors would have to guess their identities. If the neighbors guessed wrong, the kids got treats! Halloweenmeetscharades—it’s one of the quirkiest Halloween traditions that disappeared, but it’s worth bringing back for a bit of spooky nostalgia.
3. Why the Black and Orange Colors? It’s More Than Just Looking Spooky
Halloween’s classic black and orange color scheme actually has a deeper meaning. Orange represents the warmth and life of the fall harvest, while black represents the “death” of summer. This color combo dates back to Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest and start of winter, when it was believed the boundary between the living and the dead was at its thinnest. So, next time you deck out in black and orange, know you’re honoring an ancient vibe.
4. Halloween Predates Christianity
If you think Halloween is just a commercial holiday, think again. It dates back over 2,000 years to the Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced “sowin”), where ancient people celebrated with costumes, bonfires, and sacrifices to keep ghosts at bay. They believed spirits would roam on October 31, so they lit bonfires and dressed up to ward off any creepy visitors. This holiday is ancient, mysterious, and a little wild at heart. Today’s Halloween parties have nothing on those original gatherings!
5. TrickorTreating Has Medieval Roots
Forget just ringing the doorbell—Halloween’s “trickortreating” roots go all the way back to medieval Scotland and Ireland. People would go “guising” from door to door, performing songs or tricks in exchange for food. If the performance was good enough, they’d get a tasty reward. These days, all you need is a costume, but a song or two might just boost your candy haul if you want to channel the spirit of Halloween’s original “guisers.”
6. Halloween Used to Be for Finding Love
Who knew Halloween was romantic? In the 18th century, single women performed some pretty intense Halloween rituals to try and predict their future husbands. One popular tradition was to peel an apple in one long strip and throw it over their shoulder, hoping it would land in the shape of their future husband’s initials. Another spooky ritual? Standing in a dark room with a candle, hoping to see their future husband’s face in a mirror. Imagine the fright if anything actually showed up!
7. Irish Immigrants Brought Halloween to America
Thank the Irish for Halloween! Irish immigrants fleeing the Potato Famine in the 1840s brought the holiday’s traditions with them, including costumes, ghostly legends, and jacko’lanterns. But by the 1920s, Halloween pranking had gotten out of control, with kids running wild and causing mischief. Communities decided to promote “trickortreating” as a way to keep kids in check—and Halloween was saved, in all its candyladen glory.
8. Jacko’Lanterns Weren’t Always Pumpkins
Before pumpkins, people used to carve turnips, potatoes, and even beets into jacko’lanterns. The tradition started in Ireland with “Stingy Jack,” a character in Irish folklore who tricked the devil and was doomed to wander with a carvedout turnip lantern. When the tradition came to America, pumpkins quickly took over—thanks to their bigger, easiertocarve size. But maybe next year, you’ll add a carved turnip to the front porch and bring a little oldschool spookiness.
9. Candy Corn Was Originally Called “Chicken Feed”
That’s right—our favorite (or least favorite) Halloween treat was marketed as “chicken feed” in the 1880s, with a rooster on the package. Candy corn’s iconic tricolor design made it a farminginspired favorite back then, but now it’s one of Halloween’s most divisive candies. Whether you’re Team Candy Corn or not, you have to admit—it’s as iconic as it is controversial.
10. Michael Myers’ Mask Has a Celebrity Past
Halloween’s creepiest mask has a fun backstory. The Michael Myers mask was actually a Captain Kirk mask from Star Trek that the production team painted white to create that blank, horrifying expression. They tried out a clown mask too, but the Shatner mask won out, and Michael Myers became the stuff of nightmares.
11. The Fastest Jacko’Lantern Was Carved in 16.47 Seconds
Talk about a Halloween world record! In 2013, Stephen Clarke managed to carve a classic jacko’lantern face—eyes, nose, mouth, and ears included—in just 16.47 seconds. That’s some serious Halloween spirit, and a lot of pumpkin guts flying around. Now that’s one way to start the holiday right.
12. New York’s Halloween Parade is the Ultimate Spooky Spectacle
If you’re ever in NYC on Halloween, get yourself to Greenwich Village for the Halloween Parade. It’s the largest of its kind in the U.S., with over 70,000 people dressing up, marching, and dancing in the streets. What started as a small neighborhood event in 1974 has turned into a massive, colorful celebration with puppets, costumes, and over 2 million spectators.
13. Houdini’s Last Trick Was on Halloween Night
Harry Houdini, the world’s most famous magician, died on Halloween in 1926. His death was surrounded by rumors and mystery; he supposedly died from a burst appendix, but there were whispers of a “cursed” punch to his stomach. His passing on Halloween made it seem like his final disappearing act—and has forever linked Houdini to the most mystical day of the year.
14. A Halloween Full Moon is Rare—Like, Once Every 19 Years Rare
If you imagine Halloween under a full moon, that’s pure Hollywood. Halloween full moons only happen about every 19 years, and when they do, they add an extra chill to the air. Mark your calendar, because the next Halloween full moon is coming, and it’s going to be a howling good time!
15. World War II Sugar Rationing Paused TrickorTreating
During World War II, sugar rationing meant candy was in short supply, and trickortreating had to take a back seat. But once the war ended and candy companies revved up production, Halloween was back on—bigger, bolder, and with way more sweets than ever. We owe our Halloween sugar rush to the postwar candy boom!
16. Halloween is the Second Biggest Commercial Holiday in the U.S.
Halloween’s not just about candy anymore—it’s a massive industry. In 2023, Americans spent an estimated $12.2 billion on everything from costumes and decorations to parties and haunted houses. It’s second only to Christmas, so if you feel like Halloween is everywhere, you’re right!
17. Illinois is the Pumpkin Capital of the World
Looking for the ultimate Halloween pumpkin patch? Head to Illinois. The state produces more than 630 million pounds of pumpkins each year, growing over 17,000 acres of these orange beauties. When it comes to pumpkins, Illinois is the MVP of Halloween.
18. Ireland Has a Traditional Halloween Bread with a Surprise Inside
In Ireland, Halloween includes a delicious tradition: barmbrack, a sweet bread filled with raisins and a hidden trinket. Whoever finds the item in their slice is said to have good fortune—if they don’t break a tooth first! It’s a spooky and tasty way to bring a little luck to Halloween.
19. Candy Corn’s Original Name? “Chicken Feed”
Believe it or not, candy corn was marketed as “chicken feed” back in the 1880s. Its tricolor design was a nod to America’s farming roots. Today, it’s a classic Halloween treat, even if it divides fans more than any other candy. But “chicken feed” might just make it taste a little weirder.
20. Black Cats Have a Long History of Superstition
Black cats and Halloween go hand in hand like candy and costumes, but it wasn’t always a lucky pairing for our feline friends. In medieval Europe, black cats were often associated with witches and were believed to be their “familiars,” or mystical companions who aided witches in casting spells. Some even believed that witches could transform themselves into black cats to get around unnoticed. Fortunately, today’s black cats are more likely to bring us good vibes than any supernatural trouble.
21. You Can Visit the Town That Inspired ‘Hocus Pocus’
The classic Halloween movie Hocus Pocus was filmed in Salem, Massachusetts, the location of the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692. With its haunted history, Salem has become a huge Halloween destination, with ghost tours, haunted houses, and a monthlong Halloween festival. Hocus Pocus fans can check out several filming locations around town and even take a tour of the Witch House, which dates back to the 17th century. If there’s anywhere to channel those Halloween vibes, it’s Salem.
22. The “Fear of Halloween” is a Real Phobia
If the spooky season gives you chills for all the wrong reasons, you’re not alone! Named after the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, Halloweenophobia is the fear of Halloween. Any person suffering from the said phobia might find himself really challenged by all skeletons, creepy decorations, and horror movie marathons that surround the holiday. Let’s not forget that Halloween does indeed bring an eerie vibe, but to those afflicted with Samhainophobia, the season is nothing short of a real nightmare.
If it’s the spooky and supernatural side of Halloween, dressing up in all kinds of costumes, or perhaps getting your candy, Halloween means so much more than its spooky façade would indicate. From ancient traditions to currentday megapumpkins, Halloween is bringing so much history across its entire timeline with itand still doesn’t want to give up the party. Therefore, the next time you present some of these oddball and wild Halloween facts at your next costume party, know you are not talking about ghosts and goblins; you are keeping the spirit of Halloween alive, one eerie tale at a time!
