JINJIANG, CHINA - OCTOBER 31: (CHINA OUT) Children in fancy dress costumes celebrate Halloween at a primary school on October 31, 2013 in Jinjiang, China. (Photo by ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images)
JINJIANG, CHINA - OCTOBER 31: (CHINA OUT) Children in fancy dress costumes celebrate Halloween at a primary school on October 31, 2013 in Jinjiang, China. (Photo by ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images)
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People have a love hate relationship with Halloween. Some people love to dress up others think it’s a waste of time and another capitalistic over commercialization of a holiday.

But for the kids, it’s a day of candy, dress up, and trick or treat. So get in the spirit (no pun intended) carve a pumpkin, take the kids out and have a safe happy holiday.

Fun Facts About Halloween

  • There is a difference between being scared ON Halloween and being scared OF Halloween. If you are afraid of Halloween you suffer from Samhainophobia — the fear OF Halloween.
  • Turnips were used to make the very first Jack O’Lanterns.
  • The Jack in Jack O’Lanterns supposedly tricked the devil several times and as a result was forbidden entrance into both heaven and hell. He spent his days waving his lantern to steer people away from their chosen path.
  • Halloween is the second highest grossing commercial holiday after Christmas.
  • The first printed mention of trick or treating in North America came from our neighbors to the north. In 1927 in Blackie, Alberta, Canada.
  • Kids want chocolate. Fifty percent want chocolate, while 24 percent like non-chocolate and 10 percent who want gum.
  • The birthplace of Halloween is thought to be Ireland. However others believe it’s been around since 4,000 BC which makes it about 6,000 years old.
  • If you’re bored on Halloween night put your clothes on inside out go out walking backwards. It’s almost dead certain you will see a witch at midnight. Please video it for the station Facebook page if you do this.
  • France and Australia are not big fans of Halloween. They see it as an unwanted overly commercial influence from us ugly Americans.
  • The record for most Jack O’Lanterns lit at one time, 30,128 in Boston, Massachusetts.
  • Nom Craven is credited with the largest pumpkin on record coming in at 836 pounds in 1993. Good luck stealing that off the porch.
  • Stephen Clarke is the fastest pumpkin carver around setting a record of 24.03 seconds. The pumpkin must be less than 24 pounds, carved traditionally, and must have eyes, nose, ears and mouth.
  • Young ladies in Scotland believed that if they hung wet sheets in front of a fire on Halloween they would see the image of their future husbands. Others believed walking down stairs at midnight on Halloween and looking in a mirror would reveal their boyfriends faces.

Some Final Thoughts

The great thing about Halloween is that for one day of the year we can be anyone we want for the whole day. President, historic figure, great athlete, gangster or celebrity. The list is endless.

So who will you be today?

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