Every October 31st, millions of people dress as ghosts, ghouls, and superheroes — but few realize that Halloween began as a solemn ritual to survive the coming of winter. In this episode, Gordy traces the 2,000-year-old story of how an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain evolved into the Halloween we know today.
From bonfires and animal-skin disguises to soul cakes, turnip lanterns, and the first Jack-o’-lanterns carved from mangled roots, this is the fascinating tale of how pagan superstition became modern-day candy chaos.
Along the way, Gordy unearths how All Hallows’ Eve got its name, why turnips came before pumpkins, and how Irish immigrants helped reinvent the holiday in America. You’ll never look at Halloween — or that jack-o’-lantern on your porch — the same way again.
🎧 Dive in for the real history behind the costumes, candy, and skeletons. Because before Halloween was fun… it was sacred.
#HalloweenHistory #FrightFactsWeek #CelticMythology #AncientHistory #CulturalTraditions #DailyFacts #Halloween #FunFacts #spookyfacts
Music thanks to Zapsplat.
Oxford English Dictionary. (n.d.). Entry for Halloween (16th-century Scots usage).
Smithsonian Magazine. (n.d.). The Origins of Halloween Traditions.
History.com Editors. (2024). Halloween: Origins, Traditions & Facts. A&E Television Networks.
National Geographic. (n.d.). Samhain: The Celtic Origins of Halloween.
Encyclopaedia Britannica. (n.d.). All Saints’ Day and Samhain entries.
SourcesIrish Central. (n.d.). The Legend of Stingy Jack and the Jack-o’-lantern.