Halloween Super Stores
Directory: Myths Of Halloween for Your Frightening Pleasure
Halloween Myths
Halloween Myths
Myths of Halloween
Halloween Myths
Halloween Myths, a look at
the spooky holiday that has come under attack in recent years from
people who fear witches, Satanists ... and razor blades in candy. Are we scared
out of our wits simply because of some urban myths, or is Halloween
really a physically and psychologically dangerous holiday? Here's a look
at All Hallow's Eve.
1. The holiday of Halloween came from a night of sacrifice by the Celts
that was named after their lord of the dead, Samhain.
TRUE ( ) FALSE ( )
2. The Celts went to their neighbors demanding treats in order to
protect them from horrible fates.
TRUE ( ) FALSE ( )
3. Stories about razor blades and needles in candy can almost always be
traced to hoaxes by the parents or children themselves on Halloween.
TRUE ( ) FALSE ( )
4. The only documented incident of a child being fatally poisoned by
Halloween crime actually involved a parent killing his own child for the
insurance money.
TRUE ( ) FALSE ( )
5. Halloween is a field day for Satanists bent on human sacrifice and witches attempting to turn Christian children away from God.
TRUE ( ) FALSE ( )
6. Children shouldn't go trick-or-treating on Halloween in their
neighborhoods because people are basically evil and children are apt
to be poisoned, cut or abducted.
TRUE ( ) FALSE ( )
7. Halloween has become so controversial and unpopular to celebrate
that it will soon cease to exist.
TRUE ( ) FALSE ( )
ANSWERS:
1. FALSE. There was no Celtic "lord of the dead," and the
translation of "Samhain" is simply "summer's end" -- which
represents a good time for a party. Originally, back in the Middle
Ages, people did believe that ghosts and spirits sometimes passed
into the real living world, and they would dress up in costumes
designed to play tricks on the witches or fool the spirits who they
feared were treading close to Earth.
2. FALSE. Researchers have determined that trick-or-treating was not
practiced by the Celts or Druids but came into existence with
medieval and post-medieval English churchgoers who went begging for
cakes on the evening before All Soul's day, and on other holidays as
well.
3. TRUE. A University of Delaware sociology professor analyzed 40
years' worth of newspaper stories relating to Halloween pins,
needles, etc., and found that no children had been seriously injured
by needles or razors in apples or candy. Nevertheless, there's no
harm in being careful -- stick to prewrapped gum and candy, where
any potential tampering would be more obvious.
4. TRUE. In 1974, in Houston, Ronald O'Bryan poured cyanide into a
candy-filled-straw Halloween treat and gave it to his 8-year-old
son, in order to collect insurance money. O'Bryan was executed in
1984.
5. FALSE. Again, the urban myths outnumber the examples of human
sacrifice and threat to religion. Although Wiccans (witches)
celebrate the autumn with Circles, they are not anti-religious, and
Satanists are rare and often the result of "false memory syndrome"
dredged up by dubious hypnosis practices. There is some evidence
that black cats should be kept inside around Halloween, though, as
sadistic pranksters find it a good day to carry out their crimes.
6. FALSE. Trick-or-treating serves as a ritual that allows kids to
let their imaginations turn them into scary, funny or pretty
strangers, and turn strangers in their neighborhoods into friends.
But, of course, younger kids should be accompanied by parents or
other responsible caregivers. Just use common sense!
7. FALSE. Despite many attempts by some school districts to remove
Halloween celebrations from the school calendar, the holiday is, if
anything, enjoying a resurgence of popularity among adults, who love
to dress up and make fools of themselves in parades and at house
parties. Still, it is a fun holiday that's especially exciting for
children, and it is bound to remain one of their favorite holidays
of the year.
If you were able to answer at least five of the seven questions
correctly, you are all set to welcome Halloween in the fashion in
which it was meant to be celebrated: with a scary and spooky frame
of mind. BOO!!
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