12 exciting things to know about Halloween, so you can answer your kids!

As some of you know, I'm from Italy and I'm much more into Carnival than Halloween; Party that I knew from the movies of the 90s and that I discover more and more with my daughter.

So I decided to write an article to summarize the essential information to know for the survival of parents in the face of the inevitable questions of this period 👻

What is the country of origin of Halloween?

The Halloween party is said to have originated in Ireland around 3000 years ago.

What is the history of Halloween?

Halloween has its origins in the Celtic festival of "Samain", the celebration of the end of the harvest.

Why is Halloween celebrated on October 31?

The Celtic calendar ended on October 31, the night of the god of death "Samhain", and not on December 31 as today. The Celts believed that on the last night of the year the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead faded. The dead would then come back to life to wreak havoc among the living.

Why do we wear scary costumes on Halloween?

The Celts believed that the best way to repel and protect themselves from the dead was to scare them away by wearing costumes and masks.

How to see a witch on Halloween night?

According to tradition, the best way to see a witch on Halloween is to wear her clothes backwards and walk backwards at the stroke of midnight.

Why do we associate pumpkins with Halloween?

According to tradition, Halloween pumpkins help scare the dead and keep them away from homes. Plus, digging and decorating pumpkins is a fun family activity.

What does the word Halloween mean?

Halloween is a contraction of the English "All Hallows'Eve" which means in modern English "All Hallows'Day". In French, this translates to the "eve of all saints" or "the eve of All Saints".

Why are the colors associated with Halloween orange and black?

The Celtic festivals honored the god of death associated with black. On the other hand, the Romans celebrated the goddess Pomona, provider of fruits and associated with the color orange.

Why witches on Halloween?

It was at the end of the 19th century that the manufacturers of greeting cards decided to add witches to Halloween cards, associated with black magic and the worship of the devil, they would make a good symbol for the feast of the dead.

What does the famous phrase said on Halloween mean: "Trick or treat!" »?

In France and Belgium the habit is to say a sentence similar to that of English speakers which translates as "Candies or a spell"

Why do we eat candy on Halloween?

In the Celtic tradition, the inhabitants dressed up to frighten the dead gathered and left cakes and apples as an offering at the entrance to the village to ensure their safety.

When to start decorating for Halloween?

You can decorate the interior and exterior of the house during the month of October and a little after to enjoy it a little longer!

✂️ Download my garland to print for a homemade Halloween decoration.

📍 Do you know "El dia de los muertos" in Mexico? Find out more in my dedicated article !