🎃 Facts about Halloween 🎃 and not the Renters' Rights Act !

🎃 Halloween began with the Celtic festival of Samhain, celebrated over 2,000 years ago across Ireland, Scotland, and northern France. It marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter.

“Hallowe’en” means “Holy Evening” The name derives from “All Hallows’ Eve”, the night before All Saints’ Day (1st November), which honours saints and martyrs.

🎃 The custom of carving lanterns began in Ireland, where people hollowed out turnips and swedes to frighten away evil spirits, but when Irish settlers arrived in North America, they discovered that pumpkins — native to the continent — were larger and easier to carve. The pumpkin quickly became the iconic symbol of Hallowe’en.

🎃 Modern trick-or-treating evolved from souling and guising, medieval customs in which the poor — and later children — went door-to-door on All Hallows’ Eve, offering prayers for the dead in exchange for food or “soul cakes”.

🎃 In medieval Europe, black cats were believed to be witches in disguise. This superstition lingered for centuries, though in other cultures — notably Japanese and Scottish — black cats are considered symbols of good fortune and prosperity.

🎃 The colours of Hallowe’en carry deep symbolism. Orange represents warmth, harvest, and abundance, while black represents night, mystery, and the unknown.

🎃 The Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), celebrated on 1st–2nd November, shares Hallowe’en’s theme of remembrance. Families build colourful altars (ofrendas) to honour deceased loved ones.

🎃 From ghosts and vampires to film and television icons, Halloween costumes mirror cultural trends. The Celts originally wore disguises to confuse spirits — a custom that evolved into the creativity and fun of modern fancy dress.

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