Directory: Myths Of Halloween

Myths of Halloween

Halloween Myths, are part of the mystic of 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 of the urban myths make us quiver. Or, is Halloween really a physically and psychologically dangerous holiday? Here's a look at All Hallow's Eve.

Test your knowledge of the frightful nights legend with our Halloween Myth Trivia Questions and Answers...

1. 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 ( )

2. 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 ( )

3. The Celts went to their neighbors demanding treats in order to protect them from horrible fates.

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. 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 pre-wrapped gum and candy, where any potential tampering would be more obvious.

2. 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.

3. 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.

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!!