Fact Bomb of the Day FBOTD: Halloween
More facts about Halloween
- Jack-o-lanterns originated in Ireland, where people carved scary faces into turnips or potatoes to ward off a mythical trickster named Stingy Jack. When Irish immigrants arrived in America, they discovered that pumpkins were much easier to carve and adopted them for the tradition instead.
- The fear of Halloween is a real phobia known as samhainophobia, which is named after the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain that marked the beginning of the new year and the start of the darker winter months.
- Black cats were once considered bad luck because they were associated with witches during the Middle Ages, but in many other cultures, such as in Japan and parts of Great Britain, they are actually considered symbols of good luck and prosperity.
Also in October
The whole monthA new Fact Bomb drops every day. The Fact Bomb Archive