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6 things you might not know about Halloween

No doubt there will be some spooky tales told around the camp fires at PGL centres this Halloween - to accompany the toasted marshmallows. But do you know where Halloween gets its name or what turnips have to do with it? Here are six things you may not know about All Hallows Eve ...

1. Halloween gets its name from All Hallows' Evening, the night before All Hallows' Day (or All Saints' Day) which, in the Western Christian tradition is the feast dedicated to the remembrance of the dead.

2. It is thought that many Halloween traditions originated from the Celtic festival which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. It was called Samhainin in Gaelic and Calen Gaeaf in Welsh and was believed to be a time when spirits and fairies caused mischief.

3. Trick or treating in North America is a relatively new phenomenon - the first reference to the practice (known then as guising) appeared in an Ontario newspaper article in 1911. The first appearance in print of the expression 'trick or treat' was in 1927, in The Letherbridge Herald, Alberta.

4. The world's largest Halloween parade takes place in Greenwich Village, New York. Established in 1974 it now attracts around 60,000 participants and an estimated 2 million spectators - with millions more watching around the world.

5. In British and Irish traditions, it was believed that if a young woman sat in a darkened room and gazed into a mirror on Halloween night, the face of her future husband would appear in the mirror!

6. Before pumpkins came along it was traditional to carve out a turnip and put a candle inside. These were called Jack o'Lanterns, named after a character in Irish folklore who wandered the world with this turnip lantern looking for somewhere to rest.

For a truly unforgettable Halloween experience, there's always a special Halloween festival during October and early November at Disneyland Paris; one of the destinations on our courses for schools and groups in France. 

By PGL Travel.