10 fun facts you didn't know about Halloween

Halloween is a celebration of all things spooky, and it's accompanied by a few strange traditions in the United States, such as trick-or-treating and pumpkin carving. Here are some intriguing facts regarding how some of today's customs began, as well as some other fun facts about the event.

1. Candy corn was originally called Chicken Feed

Many people believe candy corn tastes like chicken feed, but that isn't how it acquired its name. George Renninger invented it in the 1880s, and Goelitz Confectionery Company (now Jelly Belly Co.) brought it to the people at the turn of the century.

Because maize is what birds eat, the product was dubbed "Chicken Feed," and the package was labeled with a bright rooster.

2. Trick-or-treating comes from "souling"

It's a little strange to have kids dress up in costumes and go door-to-door like little beggars asking treats. The custom, like many other Halloween events, can be traced back to the Middle Ages and Samhain rites.

On the night of Samhain, it was thought that phantoms roamed the land, therefore people dressed up in costumes to ward off the spirits.

Souling became popular as the Catholic Church began to replace pagan festivities with its own holidays (such as All Souls' Day), and poor children and adults would go door-to-door costumed as spirits accepting food in exchange for prayers.

3. The most lit jack o'lanterns on display is 30,581

According to Guinness World Records, the City of Keene, New Hampshire had the most illuminated jack o'lanterns on display in 2013, with 30,581. Since the first try, Keene, who is represented by Let it Shine, has broken the record eight times. That's a colossal number of pumpkins!

4. Halloween folklore is full of fortune-telling and magic

Superstition and fortune-telling abound in old English Halloween folklore, such as bobbing for apples and avoiding black cats, which are still practiced today. According to legend, if a young single person walks down the stairs backward while holding a mirror at midnight, the face that emerges in the mirror will be their next partner.

5. Day of the Dead should really be called Days of the Dead

The Day of the Dead, also known as Dia de los Muertos, is celebrated in Mexico and a few other Hispanic countries from October 31 to November 2. On November 1st, Dia de los Inocentes, family members decorate graves with baby's breath and white orchids to memorialize children who have died. Families remember adults who have died by placing orange marigolds on cemetery sites on November 2nd, Dia de los Muertos.

The Aztec festival originally lasted a month, but when Spanish conquistadors arrived in Mexico in the 16th century, they combined it with the Catholic All Saints' Day. Today's festival combines Catholic masses and prayers with Aztec rites such as skulls, altars to the dead, and cuisine.

6. Halloween originated from an ancient Celtic festival

According to History.com, the modern-day Halloween can be traced back to the ancient Celtic Samhain harvest feast. People would build bonfires and dress up in costumes to ward off evil spirits on Samhain.

In an effort to establish Christianity, Pope Gregory III declared November 1 as All Saints' Day in the eighth century, including some of the Samhain rites. All Saints' Day was also known as All Hallows, and the night before was known as All Hallows' Eve in Celtic countries, when the traditional Samhain festival was held.

7. The White House is haunted

Several tales of ghostly appearances and odd sounds have been made at the United States' most renowned address - and this isn't even counting election years! Abraham Lincoln, who has been seen by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, and Sir Winston Churchill, is the most common ghost sighting. Andrew Jackson, David Burns, and Abigail Adams are among the other spooky guests.

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