One Last Halloween Post

I have always had a fascination with Halloween or All Hallows' Eve.  As a Christian I have recognized All Saints day as a day to honor the departed family and friends I trust to be in Heaven.  My family would always place fresh flowers on our loved ones graves and try to remember them fondly instead of mourning the fact they were no longer with us on earth.  

But the lore and legend attached to the Eve of All Saints day has held particular folly and interest.  I like the thought of dressing as someone else to trick the devil.  I like the story of Jack in Ireland and his tricking the devil and how he walks the earth for eternity with a lighted turnip, I could only hope to catch sight of him one dark and spooky night.  I also like the background attached to trick or treating.  It goes back to when families in England would prepare food for the souls returning to earth for one night and how the poor would beg for cakes baked for the festivities.  It became a custom and then it developed to the point where if you didn't treat the less fortunate to a handout they would play a trick on the household.  Modern day trick or treaters are far less concerned with the tricks and always receive ample treats.  

I come from a state where religion and pagan practices merge and I feel that has aided in my enthusiasm toward ghosts and goblins and super natural lore.  But without those stories, October 31st would simply be another day...and whats the fun in that?

Halloween factoids:

• Halloween is based on an ancient holiday 'All Hallows Eve'. It was the one day of the year where dead spirits were allowed to walk the earth.
• Bats fingers are actually parts of its wings and their "fingers" are bigger then their body
• Bats always turn left when exiting a cave
• "Phasmophobia" is a fear of ghosts.
• Of the 4000 species of mammals on the planet, there are 900 different species of bats.
• Worldwide, bats are the most important natural enemies of night-flying insects.
• 9% of Americans report having been in the presence of a ghost.
• During WWII, Americans tried to train bats to drop bombs. They failed.
• Wiccaphobia: Fear of witches and witchcraft.
• Samhainophobia: Fear of Halloween. 
• Samhain is what people who regard themselves as witches call Halloween
• Chocolate is the number 1 for of candy sought out by trick or treaters
• Cats are nocturnal and over the years have been linked to witchcraft and bad luck that comes in the night
• Some believe black cats are witches in disguise or witches reborn
• Halloween was mostly celebrated in the UK and brought over to the America's by English settlers, but has become celebrated throughout most of the world.