Friday, October 30, 2009

Halloween Facts


Here are some pictures of old Halloween post cards. I love the graphics on these cards and have a small collection of my own. (Although, I don't own either of these cards.)
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Here are a few interesting tidbits about Halloween compliments of Wikipedia!
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Halloween (also spelled Hallowe'en) is an annual holiday celebrated on October 31. It has roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian holy day of All Saints.

The day is often associated with the colors black and orange, and is strongly associated with symbols like the jack-o'-lantern.

Trick-or-treating is a customary celebration for children on Halloween. Children go in costume from house to house, asking for treats such as candy or sometimes money, with the question, "Trick or treat?" The word "trick" refers to a (mostly idle) threat to perform mischief on the homeowners or their property if no treat is given. In some parts of Ireland and Scotland children still go guising. In this custom the child performs some sort of show, i.e. sings a song or tells a ghost story, in order to earn their treats.

Halloween costumes are traditionally those of monsters such as ghosts, skeletons, witches, and devils. They are said to be used to scare off demons.

Some games traditionally played at Halloween are forms of divination. A traditional Irish and Scottish form of divining one's future spouse is to carve an apple in one long strip, then toss the peel over one's shoulder. The peel is believed to land in the shape of the first letter of the future spouse's name. Unmarried women were told that if they sat in a darkened room and gazed into a mirror on Halloween night, the face of their future husband would appear in the mirror.

Check out more facts about Halloween on Wikipedia .

4 comments:

Anny Cook said...

Gorgeous cards! Have a great day!

Unknown said...

Well, as a Pagan,I can tell you that today is the second biggest holiday of the year for me. Samhain is very important as we honor those who have died over the year. A friend of mine lost her daughter to MS two months ago so this is an especially important Samhain for me. Tonight, when it is dark, I will take an apple down to the garden and plant it in the ground so that she, and all the rest who past on this year have food for their journey to Summerland. I wish you a very Blessed Samhain NJ. And a happy halloween as well. And Blessed Be to everyone else. I hope, if you have lost someone you loved this year that you find peace tonight.

N.J.Walters said...

I just love those old Halloween postcards, Anny. The graphics are beautiful.

N.J.Walters said...

Happy Samhain to you as well, Kathy. It sounds like a beautiful ceremony. I hope you get a nice clear night for it.