LONDON – OCTOBER 31: Children enjoy traditional candle-lit Halloween pumpkins on October 31, 2007 in London. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
You say you love Halloween, but how much do you really know about the holiday? Here are some fun facts about Halloween that you might not know.
1. Candy corn was originally called "chicken feed"
It was created in 1880, and because corn is what was used to feed chickens, the creation was called Chicken Feed and the box was marked with a colorful rooster.
2.) The Most Jack o' Lanterns lit in one place at once is over 30,000!
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the highest number of lit jack o’ lanterns on display is 30,581 by the City of Keene, N.H. in 2013.
3.) Michael Myers’ mask is actually a William Shatner mask
Michael Myers’s mask is iconic, but it has a pretty hilarious back story. The film was actually on such a tight budget that the crew used the cheapest mask they could find: a $2 Star Trek William Shatner mask. They spray painted it white, and fixed the eyes.
4.) Only 6 states produce a majority of the holiday’s pumpkins.
Most of the pumpkins sold in the US are produced from Illinois, California, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, and Michigan (1.31 billion pounds of pumpkins)
5.) Halloween is expensive
Parents are estimated to spend around $3 billion dollars on children’s costumes.
6.) Halloween is the 2nd largest consumer holiday in the US
Behind Christmas, Halloween is the 2nd largest holiday in regards to sales.
7.) Halloween tops valentine’s Day in candy sales
More than twice as much chocolate is sold during Halloween, than Valentine’s Day.
8.) Ireland is typically believed to be the birthplace of Halloween.
According to Irish legend, Jack O’Lanterns are named after a stingy man named Jack who, because he tricked the devil several times, was forbidden entrance into both heaven and hell. He was condemned to wander the Earth, waving his lantern to lead people away from their paths.
9.) Dressing up in costumes was once a way to hide from ghosts.
The tradition originated as a way for the Celtic and other European people to hide from the spirits who returned at this time of year,
10.) There’s a $1,000 fine for using or selling Silly String in Hollywood on Halloween.
The prank product has been banned in Hollywood since 2004 after thousands of bored people would buy it on the streets of Hollywood from illegal vendors and “vandalize” the streets.
