Bone-Fire
During the Pre-Halloween celebration of Samhain, bonfires were lit to ensure the sun would return after a long, hard winter. Often Druid priests would throw bones of cattle into the flames and hence, “Bone Fire” became “Bonfire”.
Prank Show
Scottish and Irish immigrants to North America brought guising and souling with them, but young people began to prefer pranks over performing. By the 1920s, these pranks were starting to cause serious damage to property. The increasing violence of the “tricks” led to the more organized practice of trick or treating.
Going A-Souling
During the celebrations associated with All Soul’s Day on November 2, poor people would knock on the doors of wealthy citizens and be given pastries as treats. Like guising, souling was a precursor to modern trick-or-treating.
Going Batty
Bats were also feared as the familiars of witches. Bats have an additional connection to Halloween: the bonfires that the ancient Celts built to celebrate Samhain would often attract the flying mammals.
Are You Familiar?
Black cats are another symbol of the spooky side of Halloween: if a black cat crosses your path, you’ll be cursed with bad luck. In the Medieval ages, black cats were seen as the familiars of witches, and this belief perpetuated the black cat’s association with bad luck.
From Beyond The Grave
Legend has it that if you see a spider on Halloween night, it means a loved one is watching over you.
Owl Omen
Owls are popular Halloween symbols. In medieval times, owls were believed to be witches, and if you heard the call of an owl it meant that someone was about to die.
Wicked
The word “witch” actually comes from an old English word that means “wise woman.” Members of the Wiccan were once highly respected. It was popularly believed that witches held one of their two annual meetings, called sabbats, on Halloween.
Jack’s Lantern
People love carving pumpkins at Halloween, but few know the jack-o-lantern’s dark history. According to Celtic lore, a miserly old man used to play tricks on the devil and was thus denied entrance to both heaven and hell. Instead, the old man was condemned to wander the Earth and used his lantern to lead people astray from their paths.
There’s A Name For That
Samhainophobia is the medical term for a pathological fear of Halloween.
~ I AM ME ~ MULTI-FACETED LIKE A DIAMOND ~ 
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