32 Fun Halloween Facts That Are Sure to Surprise and Delight
32 Fun Halloween Facts That Are Sure to Surprise and Delight
From scary movie trivia to interesting tidbits about the holiday's history
By Sarah Lemire and Amanda Garrity | TODAY • Published October 27, 2022
How Much Do You Really Know About Halloween?
Even after all these years, the haunted holiday remains a bit of a mystery — which is why we've rounded up some fun Halloween facts to teach you (and everyone else) a thing or two.
We've covered all the bases here. Below, learn the history of beloved Halloween traditions like trick-or-treating, homemade costumes and carved (and no-carve) pumpkins came to be. But that's not all: Get a taste of everyone's candy-eating habits, along with a look behind your favorite Halloween movies and songs.
They’ll come in handy, no matter what Halloween throws your way. Use ‘em to break the ice at a costume party, study them before a round of Halloween trivia, list off a few not-so-obvious Easter eggs about the scary movie you’re watching or incorporate bits of trivia into the caption of your annual Instagram post.
Now, take a moment to read over these fun and festive facts, then memorize a few standouts to surprise and spook everyone who crosses your path on October 31.
The White House Was First Decorated For Halloween In 1958
Mamie Eisenhower decorated the White House for Halloween for the first time. She decked out the State Dining Room in twinkle lights, shocks of dried corn, jack-o'-lanterns and autumnal flower arrangements for a lunch for wives of staff members. Things took a spooky turn outside the dining room, though: Black cats, owls, witch heads and goblins hung from chandeliers in the foyer.
HALLOWEEN
Americans Spend More Than $100 On Halloween
And it's not going down anytime soon. In 2022, the National Retail Federation estimated that Americans would spend an average of $100 on costumes, candy, decorations and greeting cards — just short of last year's estimate of $103.
Spending is expected to increase across the board, except spending on greeting cards is taking a slight dip this year. Looks like we're going digital this Halloween then!
Jack Nicholson's Divorce Inspired A Scene In "The Shining"
There's a scene in "The Shining" that writers — including Nicholson — know all too well: Wendy approaches Jack at his typewriter and he scolds her for trying to get in the way of his writing process. Nicholson later revealed that his character's reaction, although exaggerated, stems from his own personal experience.
"That scene at the typewriter — that’s what I was like when I got my divorce. I was under the pressure of being a family man with a daughter and one day I accepted a job to act in a movie in the daytime and I was writing a movie at night and I’m back in my little corner and my beloved wife, Sandra, walked in on what was, unbeknownst to her, this maniac — and I told Stanley [Kubrick] about it and we wrote it into the scene," the actor told The New York Times.
William Shakespeare Wrote The "Song Of Witches"
“Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and caldron bubble” is from William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.” A trio of witches recite the poem as they scheme over a bubbling cauldron and it's been associated with witches ever since.
People Used To Carve Turnips, Not Pumpkins
Initially, the Irish and Scottish carved turnips as a way to remember deceased souls. When they immigrated to the U.S., they realized that pumpkins were much easier to carve and the rest, as they say, is history.
The Most-Googled Costume Is A Witch
Classic Halloween costumes never go out of style. Here are the most popular children’s Halloween costumes in 2022 (in order), according to Google:
Witch Spiderman Dinosaur "Stranger Things" Fairy Pirate Rabbit Cheerleader Cowboy Harley Quinn Clown
Halloween was once known as "Black Halloween"
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