Halloween Fun Facts!

We all remember the excitement and anticipation of Halloween when we were kids; putting on those now vintage plastic costumes, or the white sheet with cut out eyes. We went out trick or treating for hours, not giving up until our paper sacks were full of treats.

Today kids still love Halloween and adults even seem to participating with their own interesting and unique costumes. Lets look at some freaky facts about the history of this fun holiday.

1. Halloween is 2,000 years old. It all began as a Celtic celebration called Samhain, which means "summers end". The festival celebrated the final day of fall harvest and the time when spirits crossed over from the after-life to our world. People use to even ward off ghosts and spirits by lighting bonfires and wearing costumes to trick the spirits.

2. The tradition of children dressing up in costumes and going door-to-door asking for treats can be traced back to the rituals of Samhain and became popular in the Middle Ages.

3. The night before Halloween is called "Mischief Night". Lots of toilet paper started being used to create white streamers in trees and yards, then came the egging of cars, and of course many other things can and do occur.

4. When sweets were first handed out on Halloween. It the 1930s trick or treating became popular with going door to door for great homemade treats, like popcorn balls, Carmel apples and cookies. Then in the 1950s the idea of pre-packaged candy entered the market and now what households everywhere give out.

5. The original jack-o-lanterns, before people starting carving out pumpkins they would actually carve turnips...yes turnips.

6. The Largest Halloween parade takes place in New York City. This parade takes place in Greenwich Village and attracts nearly 2 million people.

7. The most popular Halloween candy is Reece's Cups, followed by M&Ms.

   I think it is so great our community now does a downtown trick or treating time for kids and parents. This is such a great time and kids are out safely in an area where they can gather their candy and have a festive environment, keeping them off the streets after dark in neighborhoods.

   We will have the candy ready next week on Halloween and can't wait to see all the costumes and smiles. Plan to stop by BigIron Realty in downtown Colby and gather your sweets. One, think I am sure is still the focus from even when I was a kid...(that is a long time ago)...is that the kids will want to get their bags full.

   I love to see the parents dressed up with the kids and how it has become a family fun time...SEE YOU ON HALLOWEEN.