Every year, we carve pumpkins, go to haunted houses, get dressed up, and eat a lot of candy around Halloween. Do you know, though, where all of these traditions come from? Do you know how the holiday actually came about? Before you leave Radwyn Apartments to go trick-or-treating, read these facts:
- There's a story behind the act of trick-or-treating. Back in the 1920s and '30s, Halloween wasn't the most pleasant of holidays. In fact, during Halloween block parties, kids used to get wild and vandalize property. Then the neighbors started giving out treats and the kids were better behaved.
- Halloween dates back 2,000 years. Halloween originated from a Gaelic festival called Samhain, meaning "summer's end." During Samhain, people in the community spent time gathering resources to help them get through the winter.
- Costumes derived from All Saint's Day. Some people think that the costumes originated at Samhain, but Druid leaders actually wore animal skins to celebrate all Saint's Day. Because the two holidays were so close together, they were both celebrated together.
Twenty Interesting Things About… Halloween [The Pioneer Woman]
13 Facts You Never Knew About Halloween [Business Insider]
History of Halloween [Live Science]
