Not-So-Spooky Fun Facts for October

Believe it or not, people in Ireland originally carved turnips, beets, and potatoes with spooky faces to ward off evil spirits. When Irish immigrants came to America, they discovered pumpkins—bigger, easier to carve, and much more festive! 

Halloween is the second-largest holiday for candy sales in the U.S. (only behind Easter). Every year, Americans buy over 600 million pounds of candy in October alone! That’s a lot of chocolate bars and candy corn. 

The custom of going door-to-door started as a mix of old European traditions. In medieval times, children and poor adults would dress up and go “souling,” singing songs or prayers for the dead in exchange for food or coins. 

In the Middle Ages, black cats were often associated with witches and mystery. Over time, the superstition stuck—though today, many see them as cute (and very lucky!) companions. 

While the classic pumpkin is bright orange, they also grow in white, yellow, green, and even blue! Some communities even hold contests for the largest pumpkin grown—some have weighed over 2,000 pounds. 

Bats became linked with Halloween because they’re active at night and often seen at old churches and castles. In reality, they’re gentle creatures that help control insect populations—nature’s little pest control squad. 

Candy corn was created in the 1880s and was originally called “chicken feed” because of its shape and color. Farmers loved it, and it became popular nationwide by the 1920s. 

A full moon on October 31st only happens about once every 18–19 years. The last one was in 2020, and the next won’t come around until 2039. 

New York City’s Greenwich Village hosts the biggest Halloween parade, with thousands of costumed participants and nearly 2 million spectators. 

In the 18th century, bobbing for apples wasn’t just for fun—it was a matchmaking activity! Each apple was tied to the name of a potential sweetheart, and whoever caught the apple was believed to be their future match. 

There’s actually a phobia called Samhainophobia—the fear of Halloween. Luckily, most of us just love the costumes, candy, and pumpkins.