Happy Halloween!

Courtesy Yahoo.com

Halloween is one of the most popular holidays of the year. Many fun facts and trivia are associated with Halloween. Read on to learn ten trivia facts about Halloween.

Halloween Trivia Fact #1

Halloween was actually a Celtic holiday. It was originally called Samhain meaning "end of summer". In ancient Celtic Ireland, October 31st marked the official end of summer.

Halloween Trivia Fact #2

Potatoes and turnips were the original Jack-O-Lanterns. Irish children would carve and light them to use during the gatherings on Halloween.

Halloween Trivia Fact #3

Trick or treating had its roots in Europe. The custom known as "souling" dates back to the 9th century. On All Soul's Day which is November 2nd, the poor would walk through the villages and go door to door begging for food. They would be given "soul cakes" which is a type of pastry made from bread and currants. They would promise to pray for dead relatives in return for receiving the "soul cakes".

Halloween Trivia Fact #4

Pumpkins are a major part of Halloween. They are a member of the gourd family which includes squash, cucumbers and melons. Pumpkins are a type of squash. Many people think of them as vegetables, but from a biological standpoint they are a fruit because they come from a flower and have seeds in them.

Halloween Trivia Fact #5

Black and orange are the colors that go hand in hand when it comes to Halloween. This makes perfect sense because black is the color associated with death and darkness, and orange is the color associated with the autumn harvest.

Halloween Trivia Fact #6

Can you think of a word that rhymes with orange? It may be a popular color for Halloween, but don't try writing a rhyming poem with the word orange. Even if you use a dictionary, you won't find any words to rhyme with orange.

Halloween Trivia Fact #7

Halloween is the number two holiday in terms of commercial success. It's no surprise that Christmas is number one. Over four billion dollars is spent annually during the Halloween season. The majority of that money is spent on costumes, candy, parties, and decorations.

Halloween Trivia Fact #8

Chocolate candy bars are the most popular item to give trick-or-treaters. Which candy bar is the most popular? It's debatable and varies, depending on what website you research and who you ask. There are so many delicious chocolate candy bars, it's hard to choose. What's your favorite?

Halloween Trivia Fact #9

Approximately two billion dollars is spent annually on Halloween candy in the United States. That's a lot of Snickers bars and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups!

Halloween Trivia Fact #10

Although Halloween is generally thought of as a fun holiday, some people have a fear of Halloween. If a person has an extreme, intense, or irrational fear of Halloween, they may be suffering from a condition known as samhainophobia. You can read more about this condition by reading L. Vincent Poupard's article entitled "Do you Suffer from Samhainophobia, the Fear of Halloween?".

As you can see, Halloween is a holiday rich in history, facts, and trivia. Share these ten trivia facts about Halloween with your family and friends. Have a Happy Halloween!