Did you know: Halloween?

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This year Halloween will be different for everyone. Due to Covid, all celebrations and parties will have to be cancelled, unless you stay indoors to have a safe Halloween with your household (see our Safer Halloween article). As an alternative, if you have nothing to do on Halloween this article will have you covered.

We will provide many interesting and spooky Halloween facts for you to learn and then you will be tested at the end with a crossword. So grab your thinking caps ghouls & goblins and let's begin:

  • Did you know that Halloween has many names. You may have heard of All Hallows Eve but it is also known as Witches Night, Summer's End, Lambswool and Snap-Apple Night.
  • Halloween is seen as a time to remember the dead, though some countries like Australia see it as an annoyance and not necessary.
  • It is well known that being afraid of spiders is a common fear, but what if I told you that on Halloween it is considered good luck to see one and that a loved one is watching over you. If you have a spider climb into your pocket, you will be blessed with everlasting wealth.                                                              

  • Have you heard of the famous vampire Count Wampyr, if not you might know him as Count Dracula. Count Wampyr is the original name for Bram Stoker's vampire.
  • Have you ever wanted to see a witch on Halloween, well according to some traditions if you wear your clothes inside out and walk backwards a witch should appear before you. Though if Roald Dahl's book is anything to go by I would rather not get turned into a mouse.
  • In America during WW2, trick or treating, amongst other Halloween traditions were banned due to having a shortage of sugar rations.

  • Did you know that one of the most popular children's costumes for Halloween is Spiderman. Fitting too, with all the sweets they get on Halloween the children will really be swinging from the walls.
  • Ouiji Boards are commonly known to be medium for a wat for us to speak to ghosts. What if I told you that it is considered a board game for children? That's right, the creepy board used as the premise for many horror films is just a board game for children.
  • The iconic slasher flick "Halloween" stars the character Michael Meyers, donning a spooky mask...that mask however, it is just a William Shatner Star Trek mask they had. Makes Ol'Meyers seem less scary now doesn't it?

  • Ireland is seen as the birthplace for Halloween and according to Irish legend Jack O'Lanterns were named after a man called Stingy Jack that wandered the Earth using his lantern to lead people away from their paths.
  • The idea to dress up on Halloween actually originated from Celtic Tradition. They would dress up, disguised as demons and spirits to escape the notice of the real spirits during Samhain (Celtic Version of Halloween). 
  • According to legend, if a child is born on Halloween they will have the ability to talk to spirits.

  • In the state of Alabama it is illegal to dress up as a nun or priest on Halloween.
  • On or around Halloween you are not allowed to adopt black cats as pets. This is because many use them for decoration and they usually get abandoned after the day has passed.
  • To follow on from the last fact, black cats have gained a notorious reputation because in America they are seen as unlucky, especially because they was associated with witches. But that is not the case in Japan, UK and other European countries, black cats are a sign of good luck.

  • Did you know before it was known as trick-or-treating, the medieval Christians would go "souling". This is where the poor would go door-to-door offering prayers for the dead in exchange for soul cakes. Soul cakes are small round cakes left out on Halloween to be offered to the dead along with some milk or wine.
  • Hong Kong have their own way of celebrating Halloween, it is known as Yue Lan or known as "Festival of the Hungry Ghosts". During this event they light fires are lit and offerings are made (food and gifts) to ease the angry spirits that are looking for revenge.
  • Other than being a nightmare for dentist, on Halloween one child could amass 11,000 calories worth of sweets in one night.

I hope you have learned something interesting and new with these 18 facts about Halloween, but now it is time to test you on them with this Halloween themed crossword based on the facts you have just read.

But before you start on that crossword - how about a joke:

"What do you get if you divide the circumference of a Jack O’Lantern by is diameter?..... Pumpkin π"

Download Halloween Crossword

Answer Sheet