Halloween fun facts!
Posted:
Sat Nov 01, 2008 2:12 amby Angiekay
Halloween is the second-largest commercial holiday in America: Second only to Christmas, Halloween is a commercial juggernaut in America, where people spend an estimated $6.9 billion annually on candy, costumes, decorations, and more.
The holiday had much more modest beginnings in America. First celebrated in Colonial times by a few communities, it was still tied tightly to the harvest, and it featured fortune-telling and games on a communal level. Not until the 19th century's immigrant influx did costumes and the concept of trick-or-treating reach American shores. And by the dawn of the 20th century, the holiday had lost many of its religious motifs, beginning instead to take shape as a commercial force to be reckoned with.
Halloween trick-or-treating originated from begging: The only real difference between begging and trick-or-treating is in perspective: The former is lowly, the latter is sanctioned. In fact, some U.S. states don't hide it, calling Halloween "Beggars' Night," while some groups have campaigned against the practice, labeling it extortion.
Although no documentary evidence exists, trick-or-treating resembles a practice known as "souling," once performed in the British Isles by poor people around November 1. They would go door to door begging for food; in exchange, they would offer to pray for the souls of the dead.
The devil provides the light in a jack-o'-lantern: According to legend, a fellow named Stingy Jack twice played tricks on the devil, managing in the process to cut deals with him. The second of these deals was that he would not take Jack's soul when he died. Caught between a hot rock (hell) and a high place (heaven), Jack had no choice but to wander endlessly in the darkness between the two, using a lantern he made from a hollowed-out turnip that was lit up with one of hell's embers that had been generously donated by the devil.
The first jack-o'-lanterns were made from turnips: Nineteenth century Irish immigrants to America brought many traditions with them to their new country, and one of them was the jack-o'-lantern. In their case, however, it was a turnip carved out to make room for a light --yet, according to the Ulster American Folk Park in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, when those immigrants arrived in America they had trouble finding turnips, so they turned to a vegetable native to their new land: the pumpkin.
Halloween was the ancient Celtic New Year's Eve: For the Celts, the new year began on November 1; or, in more drastic terms, it began at the traditional end of summer harvest and the onset of winter -- the seasonal commencement of death.
On the night before, the Celts believed that the realms of both the living and the dead became fuzzy enough to permit dead spirits to create enormous problems, such as destroying crops meant to sustain them through the difficult winter months.
Re: Halloween fun facts!
Posted:
Sat Nov 01, 2008 2:19 amby bluejeangirl76
Angiekay wrote:
The first jack-o'-lanterns were made from turnips
I'm gonna start doing that.
Re: Halloween fun facts!
Posted:
Sat Nov 01, 2008 2:23 amby Arianddu
bluejeangirl76 wrote:Angiekay wrote:
The first jack-o'-lanterns were made from turnips
I'm gonna start doing that.
A Scottish friend who grew up doing turnip jack-o-lanterns did this broc-o-lantern as a dare recently
Re: Halloween fun facts!
Posted:
Sat Nov 01, 2008 2:45 amby ScarabGator
Angiekay wrote:
Halloween is the second-largest commercial holiday in America: Second only to Christmas, Halloween is a commercial juggernaut in America, where people spend an estimated $6.9 billion annually on candy, costumes, decorations, and more.
The holiday had much more modest beginnings in America. First celebrated in Colonial times by a few communities, it was still tied tightly to the harvest, and it featured fortune-telling and games on a communal level. Not until the 19th century's immigrant influx did costumes and the concept of trick-or-treating reach American shores. And by the dawn of the 20th century, the holiday had lost many of its religious motifs, beginning instead to take shape as a commercial force to be reckoned with.
Halloween trick-or-treating originated from begging: The only real difference between begging and trick-or-treating is in perspective: The former is lowly, the latter is sanctioned. In fact, some U.S. states don't hide it, calling Halloween "Beggars' Night," while some groups have campaigned against the practice, labeling it extortion.
Although no documentary evidence exists, trick-or-treating resembles a practice known as "souling," once performed in the British Isles by poor people around November 1. They would go door to door begging for food; in exchange, they would offer to pray for the souls of the dead.
The devil provides the light in a jack-o'-lantern: According to legend, a fellow named Stingy Jack twice played tricks on the devil, managing in the process to cut deals with him. The second of these deals was that he would not take Jack's soul when he died. Caught between a hot rock (hell) and a high place (heaven), Jack had no choice but to wander endlessly in the darkness between the two, using a lantern he made from a hollowed-out turnip that was lit up with one of hell's embers that had been generously donated by the devil.
The first jack-o'-lanterns were made from turnips: Nineteenth century Irish immigrants to America brought many traditions with them to their new country, and one of them was the jack-o'-lantern. In their case, however, it was a turnip carved out to make room for a light --yet, according to the Ulster American Folk Park in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, when those immigrants arrived in America they had trouble finding turnips, so they turned to a vegetable native to their new land: the pumpkin.
Halloween was the ancient Celtic New Year's Eve: For the Celts, the new year began on November 1; or, in more drastic terms, it began at the traditional end of summer harvest and the onset of winter -- the seasonal commencement of death.
On the night before, the Celts believed that the realms of both the living and the dead became fuzzy enough to permit dead spirits to create enormous problems, such as destroying crops meant to sustain them through the difficult winter months.
Damn Angie-if you tell me your into Halloween you are gonna have me 4-ever!!!!
Re: Halloween fun facts!
Posted:
Sat Nov 01, 2008 2:52 amby Angel
ScarabGator wrote:Damn Angie-if you tell me your into Halloween you are gonna have me 4-ever!!!!
Tim, how DO you keep up with all the girls that have you "4-ever?"
Posted:
Sat Nov 01, 2008 3:11 amby brywool
Halloween's the best. What's with all the HalloHate in the other threads?
Posted:
Sat Nov 01, 2008 3:14 amby bluejeangirl76
brywool wrote:Halloween's the best.
I love halloween. I even dressed up my avatar! (I cheated and used last year's but still).
(and one Halloween I even dressed up AS my avatar
)
Posted:
Sat Nov 01, 2008 3:16 amby Rhiannon
StocktontoMalone wrote:bluejeangirl76 wrote:brywool wrote:Halloween's the best.
I love halloween. I even dressed up my avatar! (I cheated and used last year's but still).
(and one Halloween I even dressed up AS my avatar
)
What a spoon.....
It's true. She has tails.
Posted:
Sat Nov 01, 2008 3:18 amby bluejeangirl76
StocktontoMalone wrote:What a spoon.....
Meh. At the time I did that I suppose I was kinda bad, yeah (great costume though!). I've come to my senses since and applied my fanatacism in a much more proper and realistic manner.
Posted:
Sat Nov 01, 2008 3:19 amby bluejeangirl76
Rhiannon wrote:StocktontoMalone wrote:bluejeangirl76 wrote:brywool wrote:Halloween's the best.
I love halloween. I even dressed up my avatar! (I cheated and used last year's but still).
(and one Halloween I even dressed up AS my avatar
)
What a spoon.....
It's true. She has tails.
See above.
And WHO was it that saw those tails and went "Oooh I want to try that on!"
Posted:
Sat Nov 01, 2008 3:20 amby Angel
I LOVE HALLOWEEN-most years, too busy to love it as much this year. But, I do have a tradition that my son will carry on for me this year-I pick one trick or treater that appears to be far to old to be out trick or treating and I give him/her a nice, wet, juicy dill pickle in their bag. My brother and I did that one year many, many, many years ago and I've done it every year since. It's still just as funny as the first year I did it!
Posted:
Sat Nov 01, 2008 3:20 amby bluejeangirl76
Posted:
Sat Nov 01, 2008 3:25 amby Rhiannon
bluejeangirl76 wrote: See above.
And WHO was it that saw those tails and went "Oooh I want to try that on!"
Your mom?
I'm kidding you! I think it's cool, said it then, say it again. Dingus.
Posted:
Sat Nov 01, 2008 3:30 amby bluejeangirl76
Rhiannon wrote:bluejeangirl76 wrote: See above.
And WHO was it that saw those tails and went "Oooh I want to try that on!"
Your mom?
I'm kidding you! I think it's cool, said it then, say it again. Dingus.
Well, it was just for the rock star outfit - it isn't as if I go running around town in black tails at will... or even worse, it isn't as if I go "omg, STEVIE wears that/likes that/owns that, so I have to have it too!" THEN I would need to be locked up good and tight.
That's only ok if you're 12.
Posted:
Sat Nov 01, 2008 3:36 amby S2M
bluejeangirl76 wrote:Rhiannon wrote:bluejeangirl76 wrote: See above.
And WHO was it that saw those tails and went "Oooh I want to try that on!"
Your mom?
I'm kidding you! I think it's cool, said it then, say it again. Dingus.
Well, it was just for the rock star outfit - it isn't as if I go running around town in black tails at will... or even worse, it isn't as if I go "omg, STEVIE wears that/likes that/owns that, so I have to have it too!" THEN I would need to be locked up good and tight.
That's only ok if you're 12.
Don't crack the stone, man......
Posted:
Sat Nov 01, 2008 3:37 amby Deb
Re: Halloween fun facts!
Posted:
Sat Nov 01, 2008 3:38 amby ScarabGator
Angiekay wrote:ScarabGator wrote:Damn Angie-if you tell me your into Halloween you are gonna have me 4-ever!!!!
I absolutely LOVE Halloween! It's my favorite holiday!!! I dress up EVERY year!
YOU ARE KIDDING!!!(Gator says that as he wipes tear away) Halloween is my favorite!!! It wears me out but its a blast!!! I build and operate the biggest Haunted House in the South Georgia area.....
Re: Halloween fun facts!
Posted:
Sat Nov 01, 2008 3:39 amby S2M
ScarabGator wrote:Angiekay wrote:ScarabGator wrote:Damn Angie-if you tell me your into Halloween you are gonna have me 4-ever!!!!
I absolutely LOVE Halloween! It's my favorite holiday!!! I dress up EVERY year!
YOU ARE KIDDING!!!(Gator says that as he wipes tear away) Halloween is my favorite!!! It wears me out but its a blast!!! I build and operate the biggest Haunted House in the South Georgia area.....
Is that the Georgia Dome?
Re: Halloween fun facts!
Posted:
Sat Nov 01, 2008 3:41 amby ScarabGator
StocktontoMalone wrote:ScarabGator wrote:Angiekay wrote:ScarabGator wrote:Damn Angie-if you tell me your into Halloween you are gonna have me 4-ever!!!!
I absolutely LOVE Halloween! It's my favorite holiday!!! I dress up EVERY year!
YOU ARE KIDDING!!!(Gator says that as he wipes tear away) Halloween is my favorite!!! It wears me out but its a blast!!! I build and operate the biggest Haunted House in the South Georgia area.....
Is that the Georgia Dome?
No, Georgia Dome is where Florida will be playing for the SEC championship when they dismantle Georgia tomorrow.
Re: Halloween fun facts!
Posted:
Sat Nov 01, 2008 3:43 amby S2M
ScarabGator wrote:StocktontoMalone wrote:ScarabGator wrote:Angiekay wrote:ScarabGator wrote:Damn Angie-if you tell me your into Halloween you are gonna have me 4-ever!!!!
I absolutely LOVE Halloween! It's my favorite holiday!!! I dress up EVERY year!
YOU ARE KIDDING!!!(Gator says that as he wipes tear away) Halloween is my favorite!!! It wears me out but its a blast!!! I build and operate the biggest Haunted House in the South Georgia area.....
Is that the Georgia Dome?
No, Georgia Dome is where Florida will be playing for the SEC championship when they dismantle Georgia tomorrow.
Fear the Nittany Lion......
Re: Halloween fun facts!
Posted:
Sat Nov 01, 2008 3:47 amby ScarabGator
StocktontoMalone wrote:ScarabGator wrote:StocktontoMalone wrote:ScarabGator wrote:Angiekay wrote:ScarabGator wrote:Damn Angie-if you tell me your into Halloween you are gonna have me 4-ever!!!!
I absolutely LOVE Halloween! It's my favorite holiday!!! I dress up EVERY year!
YOU ARE KIDDING!!!(Gator says that as he wipes tear away) Halloween is my favorite!!! It wears me out but its a blast!!! I build and operate the biggest Haunted House in the South Georgia area.....
Is that the Georgia Dome?
No, Georgia Dome is where Florida will be playing for the SEC championship when they dismantle Georgia tomorrow.
Fear the Nittany Lion......
Not trying to hijack the Halloween topic but Florida vs. Penn State would be a GREAT NC.