London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 12, 2026

Ten things you may not know about Halloween

Ten things you may not know about Halloween

It's almost Halloween guys, and we're very excited! In case you've been living under a rock, Halloween is celebrated on October 31. It's probably most known now for traditions such as dressing up and trick-or-treating.

But with ghosts and ghouls and spirits, there's much more to Halloween than broomsticks and candy.

So Loop Lifestyle is sharing 10 things you may not know about Halloween.

1. Did you know that the origins of Halloween are rooted in Celtic traditions? According to tradition, it was a day used to ward off spirits by lighting fires and wearing costumes. Why were they warding off spirits you may ask? Read on.... 

2.It's believed that October 31 marked the end of summer and the harvest, and the beginning winter. Winter was associated with doom and gloom and human death. It's believed that on Halloween the boundary between the world of the living and the dead became blurred, and that spirits came to roam the earth on Halloween. Hence the need to ward them off.

3.Halloween is good time for candy companies. Yes they are in extra-high demand at this time of year, with US statistics revealing that a quarter of all the candy sold annually Stateside is purchased for Halloween.

4.Without going too deep into the religious reformation, it was on Halloween day in 1517 that Martin Luther released a popular document known as ‘The 95 theses', which started the reformation. Coincidence?

5.Ireland is credited with being the birthplace of Halloween. Not surprising then, it was Irish immigrants to America who are thought to have popularized the tradition.

6.Trick-or-treating is first documented in 1927 in Blackie, Canada.

7.It's believed that witches held one of their two annual meetings, called sabbats, on Halloween.

8.In the 1940s, trick-or-treating was halted because war-time rationing had curtailed the use of sugar.

9.Turnips were originally used to make Jack-o-lanterns, not pumpkins.

10.While full moons are also associated with Halloween, a full moon on October 31 is quite rare. A full moon is expected on October 31, 2020.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
NHS Trust Secures Funding for AI Tool to Detect Heart Failure Earlier
Government Unveils £4.5 Billion Investment Plan for Walking and Cycling Infrastructure
Nationwide Reports UK House Prices Falling as Borrowing Costs Remain Elevated
Centre for Social Justice Says Two Million Britons Are Using Illegal Loan Sharks
UK Carmakers Warn EU Local Content Rules Could Damage British Manufacturing
UK Government Imposes Emergency Ban on Seven Potent Synthetic Opioids
Royal Navy Completes Major North Atlantic Anti-Submarine Exercise Off Norway
NHS Figures Show Nearly 3,000 Patients a Day Receiving Care in Hospital Corridors
CBI Cuts UK Growth Forecast as Middle East Tensions Drive Inflation Risks Higher
Dan Jarvis Appointed UK Defence Secretary Following Major Government Reshuffle
University College London Study Links Physical Punishment to Higher Risk of Bullying
East Midlands Railway Unveils First Refurbished Train in £60 Million Modernization Programme
RNLI Issues National Water Safety Appeal Ahead of Expected Heatwave
Climate Change Raises Subsidence Risks for Millions of Homes Across Southeast England
Manchester Advances Plans for Underground Piccadilly Station With £1 Million Funding Commitment
Anti-Immigration Violence Continues in Belfast Amid Heightened Security Concerns
UK Law Locks Great British Railways Into Public Ownership
Office for National Statistics Adopts Supermarket Checkout Data for Inflation Measurement
Applied Atomics Launches With $500 Million Space Infrastructure Order Book
BYD Plans Nationwide Rollout of Ultra-Fast EV Charging Network
UK House Prices Unexpectedly Fall in May
CBI Warns UK Growth Is Becoming Increasingly Dependent on Public Spending
Makerfield By-Election Fuels Speculation Over Labour’s Future Leadership
Britain Declines to Join EU SAFE Defence Fund
UK Unveils 2040 Emissions Target Despite Strong Political Opposition
Government Orders Full Review of Palantir’s NHS Data Contract
UK Borrowing Costs Climb as Markets Price in Further Bank of England Rate Rises
Resident Doctors Confirm Five-Day NHS Strike Across England
Violent Anti-Immigrant Riots in Belfast Spark Political and Diplomatic Tensions
United Kingdom Sees Recovery in Horizon Europe Research Funding Share to 9.3 Percent
UK Inflation Holds at 2.8 Percent as Office for Budget Responsibility Flags Persistent Price Pressures
United Kingdom Launches National Anti-Fraud Framework to Combat Rising Pension Scam Losses
United Kingdom Expands Sanctions on Israeli Groups While Funding Palestinian Authority Salaries and Gaza Mine Clearance
United Kingdom Issues Three-Month Ultimatum to Major Technology Firms Over Child Online Safety Controls
United Kingdom Government Moves Toward Blanket Social Media Ban for Children Under Sixteen
Widespread Anti-Immigration Rioting Erupts Across Belfast After Knife Attack Linked to Asylum Seeker
Farmers Warn of Crop Losses Following Months of Unseasonal Rainfall
Civil Aviation Authority Launches Review of Regional Airport Operations
Met Office Issues Heat-Health Alert Across Parts of England
National Grid Introduces New Measures to Protect Winter Energy Supply
Northern England Rail Upgrades Receive Additional Government Funding
Wales Advances Green Hydrogen Strategy to Decarbonize Heavy Industry
UK Expands Recruitment Incentives to Address Shortage of STEM Teachers
High Court Opens Door to Climate Liability Claims Against Major Industrial Emitters
Police Service of Northern Ireland Investigates Major Personnel Data Breach
Defense Ministry Overhauls Procurement System to Accelerate AUKUS Submarine Program
Net Migration Remains Above Government Expectations, New Data Shows
UK and Scottish Governments Agree Framework for Expanded North Sea Wind Development
UK Treasury Launches New Tax Incentives to Boost AI and Semiconductor Investment
Bank of England Signals Continued Caution on Interest Rate Cuts
×