Everyone at MTB Windows & More hopes you and your family have a safe and happy Halloween.
This is the time of year for scary decorations and creepy costumes. However, the scariest thing to us is knowing cold weather is coming and people are relying on old windows, doors and roofs to keep out the elements. If you need a home improvement company in the greater Hagerstown, MD area to help you save on energy bills, then contact us today.
While you’re taking an inventory of all the upgrades you can make in your home, enjoy this Halloween trivia about the traditions we all know and love.
Halloween Trivia
Photo from Therma-Tru Doors
Why are pumpkins part of Halloween?
A: Pumpkins are actually indigenous to the Western Hemisphere and have been found on the continent for thousands of years. Pumpkins entered into the Halloween celebration after Irish immigrants came to America and found that pumpkins were easier to carve than potatoes for the holiday.
When did the Jack-’o-lantern become part of the autumn celebration?
A: Jack-’o-lanterns have been around for hundreds of years. The legend is of a man named Jack, who according to legend, invited the devil for a drink. Jack did not want to pay for his drink, so he made a deal with the devil. The devil turned himself into coins, but instead of paying for the drink, Jack kept the coins. Later freeing the devil, he promised to change him back if he did not steal his soul. Upon Jack’s death, God would not let him into heaven because of his past and the devil would not let him into hell. Instead, the devil gave Jack a piece of coal, which Jack placed into a turnip. The legend goes that Jack used the turnip and coal to light his way as he looked for a final resting place. The original jack-’o-lanterns in Ireland were carved out of turnips or potatoes.
Why do we have Halloween parties?
A: The idea of people gathering together to celebrate dates back to the early American settlers, who celebrated the harvest. People would gather at these events and would share ghost stories, dance, sing and tell fortunes. Since that time, Halloween has become more of a holiday about bobbing for apples and candy than celebrating the harvest.
Who is responsible for bringing Halloween to America?
A: Halloween is mix of traditions from Celtic, Catholic and Roman religious rituals. Celts would dress in costumes and light bonfires to ward off ghosts, thought to return on Halloween. The Celts believe that the boundaries between the living and the dead blurred on Halloween, making it easier for ghosts and spirits to return to cause mischief.
When did candy corn become part of the celebration?
A: More than 35 million pounds of candy corn is produced each year according to the National Confectioner’s Association. Created in the late 1800s, the three colors are supposed to look like the colors in kernels of corn.
How did ghosts become part of Halloween?
A: Most cultures and civilization contain some sort of stories about spirits, many of whom return from the dead. According to legend, ghosts are “specters” and belief is based on the thought that a person’s spirit lives on after their death. Places or structures that are haunted by ghosts are thought to have some sort of connection to the ghost’s past.
How did costumes become part of the holiday?
A: Costumes were first worn to tell each other’s fortunes and for protection against evil spirits. The first costumes in Ireland were made of animal heads and skins. The modern celebration of Halloween still involves costumes, but many are not as creepy or scary as the first.
Did Trick-or-Treat start in America?
A: Trick-or-treating for candy and prizes is a common tradition in the United States. A predecessor of trick-or-treating is a Scottish and Irish practice called “Guising,” where children went from door to door in costumes collecting coins and food. Children would only receive the prize if they did a “trick” such as song or dance, before the treat was given.
How much candy is given out on Halloween?
A: One quarter (600 million pounds) of all of the candy sold in the United States every year is purchased specifically for Halloween. Ninety million pounds of that is chocolate.
Contact Us
Contact us if you are thinking of roofing, windows, doors or siding projects. We use high-quality products, like Andersen Windows and Therma-Tru Doors. You can call us at our Clear Spring office at 301-766-7161 or contact us here.
Our home improvement professionals work throughout Western Maryland. That area includes Hagerstown, Clear Spring, Hancock, Boonsboro, Smithsburg and Frederick County in MD.
Mt. Tabor Builders is our sister company that can help with building a home or doing a major addition or renovation. Click on this link to see Mt. Tabor’s gallery of projects.