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Pumpkins protect your home. To ward off demons, people in Ireland carved faces into turnips and potatoes, and set them in their windows. But when they came to the New World, they discovered pumpkins were more plentiful and easier to carve, so they switched.
Lighting a candle says "welcome". Setting out a glowing jack-o-lantern encourages protective visitors to drop by. How'd it start? Candles are a modern day version of the bonfires the early Celts built to invite wandering good spirits to stop by and warm themselves before winter set in.
Owls bring wisdom. The Druids believed Halloween night was ruled over by a goddess who disguised herself as an owl. The reason was because owls only come out at night, they were thought to be wise and have special knowledge of the spirit world.
Putting out candy brings blessings. Trick or treating on Halloween got its start in thre 9th century when poor European villagers went door to door on that night asking for currant studded soul cakes. Each donor who gave would then be blessed for the remainder of the year.
Wearing a costume scares off trouble. The idea of dressing up goes back to the Druids, who disguised themselves in elaborate costumes and Masks to dance around the Halloween fire and scare away spirits. Later, the Scottish and Irish adapted the tradition by dressing up as ghouls.
Bobbing for apples boosts your love life. The Druids believed apples represented fertility, and that the first person to successfully bob for one would be the first to marry. After catching an apple between your teeth, you were supposed to sleep with it under your pillow - to ensure dreams of your future mate.
Full moons bring a good harvest. In autumn, a full moon looks bigger and more orange, which is why it's the color of Halloween. The Celts called these "harvest moons" because they appeared only during the fall harvest.
A black cat improves your luck. Popular superstitions to the contrary, most cultures have revered black cats as lucky. And in Scandinavia, they carry the added aura of romance. It's said they pulled the chariot of Freya, the Norse goddess of passion.
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