The LuLac Edition 5,015, October 31st, 2023

 

MAYBE I’M AMAZED

Our “Maybe I’m Amazed” logo. 

HALLOWEEN EDITION 

MAYBE I’M AMAZED……..that the The first Jack O’Lanterns were actually made from turnips.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED……The word “witch” comes from the Old English wicce, meaning “wise woman.” In fact, wiccan were highly respected people at one time. According to popular belief, witches held one of their two main meetings, or sabbats, on Halloween night._[19]

MAYBE I’M AMAZED……..but not surprised that. Halloween is the second highest grossing commercial holiday after Christmas.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED…… that fifty percent of kids prefer to  receive chocolate candy for Halloween, compared with 24% who prefer non-chocolate candy and 10% who preferred gum.

_{MAYBE I’M AMAZED….}Samhainophobia is the fear of Halloween.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED……that the  owl is a popular Halloween image. In Medieval Europe, owls were thought to be witches, and to hear an owl's call meant someone was about to die

MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..According to Irish legend, Jack O’Lanterns are named after a stingy man named Jack who, because he tricked the devil several times, was forbidden entrance into both heaven and hell. He was condemned to wander the Earth, waving his lantern to lead people away from their paths.

MAYBE I'M AMAZED  that   the Guinness World Record for Heaviest Pumpkin is held by Mathias Willemijns from Belgium and his 2,624.6-pound pumpkin._[9]

MAYBE I’M AMAZED that  Stephen Clarke holds the record for the world’s fastest pumpkin carving time: 24.03 seconds, smashing his previous record of 54.72 seconds. The rules of the competition state that the pumpkin must weigh less than 24 pounds and be carved in a traditional way, which requires at least eyes, nose, ears, and a mouth.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED  that trick-or-treating evolved from the ancient Celtic tradition of putting out treats and food to placate spirits who roamed the streets at Samhain, a sacred festival that marked the end of the Celtic calendar year.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED……that Souling” is a medieval Christian precursor to modern-day trick-or-treating. On Hallowmas (November 1), the poor would go door-to-door offering prayers for the dead in exchange for soul cakes.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED that Ireland is typically believed to be the birthplace of Halloween.

MAYBE I.M AMAZED that the first known mention of trick-or-treating in print in North America occurred in 1927 in Blackie, Alberta,  According to a Merriam-Webster blog post, research conducted by etymologist Barry Popik suggests the term “trick or treat” first appeared in the early 1920s, when several Canadian newspapers used variations of it. A November 1923 article published in the Saskatchewan Leader-Post described a quiet Halloween, noting that “‘Treats’ not ‘tricks’ were the order of the evening,” while a November 1924 article published in Alberta’s Red Deer Advocate stated:Hallowe'en night was observed in the usual manner by the young "bloods" in Penhold. "Fun is fun, and tricks are tricks," but when such public buildings as school and Memorial Hall are molested with no option for "Treat or Trick," we can not see where either fun or trick is enjoyed by the participants.