Halloween - History, Facts, Origins, Myths and Traditions

Learn the origins of Halloween and other fun facts about Halloween -- history, traditions, spooky myths and superstitions debunked.

Related Topics: Ghosts, Experiments for Kids

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Spooky blurry image of a skull against a black background.

13 disturbing Halloween horrors come to life

By Laura Geggel

Here is the science behind 13 Halloween horrors come to life.

Kids dressed up as zombies for Halloween.

The history of Halloween

By Benjamin Radford

Halloween has its roots in a pagan harvest festival, while different traditions were added throughout the years.

Five-year-old Reed Havlik has a rare brain condition called vanishing white matter disease. People with the condition are particularly vulnerable to stresses, including fright, that can worsen symptoms or even lead to death.

Boy's Rare Brain Condition Means He Could Be Literally Scared to Death

By Rachael Rettner

Halloween frights are usually harmless, but not for five-year-old Reed Havlik: The boy has a rare brain condition that could cause him to be literally scared to death.

The Gruesome Stories Behind Famous Dead People's Long-Lost Body Parts (Photos)

By Laura Geggel

Whatever happened to Albert Einstein's brain? Or Louis XIV's heart? These body parts, and countless other pieces of famous dead people, are not buried in places you'd expect.

How Fake Blood Is Made to Look So Real

By Katharine Gammon

For Halloween, stage blood takes the spotlight and chemistry tricks can treat viewers.

In Photos: Eerie Zoo Animal Skeletons, in X-Rays

By Mindy Weisberger

Are X-rays of animals gorgeous or creepy? Maybe a little of both.

Why Believing in Ghosts Can Make You a Better Person

By Tok Thompson, Sciences

Ghost stories are often about the departed seeking justice for an earthly wrong. Their sightings are a reminder that ethics and morality transcend our lives.

Why Is Laughter Sometimes Scary?

By Yasemin Saplakoglu

muahaha

No, The CDC Didn't Say You Can't Put Chickens in Halloween Costumes

By Sara G. Miller

Happy Halloween, chickens!

Why Is it Fun to Be Frightened?

By Margee Kerr

Visiting an extreme haunted house can be delightfully terrifying.

Yes, You Really Can 'Overdose' on Candy — or at Least One Type

By Sara G. Miller

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a message for candy-lovers: "As it turns out, you really can overdose on candy — or, more precisely, black licorice."

13 Bizarre Mythical Monsters to Haunt Your Halloween

By Mindy Weisberger

Traditional Halloween creatures — vampires, werewolves and killer clowns — may give you the shivers, but these mythic monsters from around the world are truly terrifying nightmare fuel.