Eat, Drink and Be Scary
It's That Time of Year Again
Greetings, and Welcome to my Halloween Round-up post.
I curated some interesting “fun facts” and links to great Halloween party foods, drinks, and treats. If you’re planning a celebration of any size, check them out. There’s something for everyone!
And above all…have a gruesomely good time!
Halloween Trivia You May Not Have Heard Of:
What does the word "Halloween" mean?
Answer: Hallowed Evening or Holy Night—because Halloween is a Catholic holiday too. Short for All Hallows' Eve, Halloween is the day of the vigil held the evening before All Saints' Day on November 1. Pope Gregory IV added All Saints' Day to the official Church calendar in 837 C.E., expanding the holiday, which was previously celebrated only in Rome, to all churches.
When was Halloween first celebrated in the U.S.?
Answer: Americans first celebrated the holiday in the 1840s, when Irish immigrants fleeing potato famine brought the tradition to the U.S.
What is the largest Halloween parade in the U.S.?
Answer: At a mile long, the Village Halloween Parade in New York City is the largest in the country. It's known for showcasing giant puppets, exotic costumes, and more.
What was the original name for candy corn?
Answer: Chicken Feed. According to History.com, the Goelitz Candy Company (now Jelly Belly Candy Company) popularized the classic tricolor Halloween treat when it began marketing the kernels under that name in 1898.
Who was the first First Lady to decorate the White House to celebrate Halloween?
Answer: Mamie Eisenhower in 1958.
Which candy was handed out to soldiers during the Korean War?
Answer: Launched way back in 1907, Tootsie Rolls were accidentally air-dropped to American troops in battle in the Korean War. The troops went on to praise the candies for keeping them nourished and even plugging bullet holes in vehicles and equipment, which would seal as the candies froze in the frigid temperatures.
Is a pumpkin a fruit or a vegetable?
Answer: This might come as a surprise, but it's a fruit! Anything that starts as a flower, like a pumpkin, becomes a fruit.
Which of the following is NOT a term for a scarecrow: Hodmedod, Murmet, Doodle sack, Hay-man, Gallybagger, Tattie Bogal, Mommet, Mawkin, Bwbach.?
Answer: Doodle Sack, which is an English word for a bagpipe. Either way, while the Scarecrow may not have had a heart, he does go by a lot of names!
What is the highest-grossing horror film to date?
Answer: 2017's It comes in at the top without adjusting for inflation, with The Sixth Sense (1999) and Jaws (1975) in the second and third spots.
What was Bram Stoker's original name for Dracula?
Answer: Count Wampyr. Wampyr is the German word for vampire. Stoker changed the name to Dracula after seeing the name in a book he borrowed from the library while on summer vacation in 1890.
What year will have the next Halloween with a full moon?
Answer: 2039. The previous Halloween with a full moon was just in 2020, so you'll have to wait another 16 years to see another full moon on Halloween night.
What product is banned in Hollywood on Halloween?
Answer: Silly String. If you plan on using silly string on Halloween night, stay away from Hollywood and Hollywood Boulevard specifically. A ban on the messy toy went into effect in 2004 due to complaints from business owners, but expect to shell out a $1,000 fine if caught with a can in your hand or string in your hair.
In what state is it illegal to dress up as a nun or a priest on Halloween?
Answer: Alabama.
What ghost did British Prime Minister Winston Churchill reportedly see in the White House?
Answer: Abraham Lincoln, according to a story widely told by Churchill. When he was a guest staying at The White House, Churchill was done with a long bath and walking back to his adjoining room, naked with only his cigar, when he saw Lincoln sitting by the fireplace. Churchill said, "Good evening, Mr. President. You seem to have me at a disadvantage." To which Mr. Lincoln apparently only smiled and disappeared.
How is the "mystery flavor" of Dum Dums lollipops made?
Answer: Rather than cleaning the machines out between flavor batches, the company will combine the leftovers of flavor A and flavor B to make the mystery flavor. They then use a wrapper with question marks designed to signify its mysterious flavor profile.
Who inspired the serial killer in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Psycho?
Answer: Ed Gein inspired both films. The Wisconsin man made headlines around the world after his crimes were discovered in 1957. The novel Psycho came out only two years later, in 1959, and the film came out in 1960.
Photo by Maxime Roedel on Unsplash How many children have been harmed or injured by poisoned or manipulated candy given to them by strangers on Halloween?
Answer: Zero. Apparently, there have been very few cases of strangers inserting objects inside candy, and these have never led to any serious injury. Most cases of candy tampering have actually been done by family members and blamed on strangers.1
Halloween Cocktails, Anyone?
Here’s a handy list of 19 Halloween Cocktails (Adults Only)
Spooky Mocktails
Here’s some great options for 12 Ghoulishly Great Halloween Drinks for Kids
Halloween Party Foods to Impress All Your Ghosts & Goblins:
From Pumpkin Risotto to a Spider Taco Ring to Zombie Brain Cupcakes, these fun and flavorful Halloween Recipes will have your party hopping in no time!
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Thanks so much for the restack, Dana!
Good stuff! I'm a bit late to the halloween party though:(