7 Origins of Halloween superstitions

Halloween is the spookiest time of the year. As we don costumes, carve pumpkins and decorate our homes with creepy crawlies, we are also unwittingly embracing a wealth of superstitions. From the cautious avoidance of black cats to the eerie enchantment of broomsticks, Halloween traditions have more tricks and treats than a bag full of candy.

Here are seven Halloween traditions and their origins.

The checkered history black cats have with being associated with bad luck can be traced back to the witch trials of the 16th and 17th centuries, where they were believed to be witches' familiars. It was believed that crossing paths with a black cat brings misfortune, but superstition likely developed from the fear of the unknown, as black cats are often associated with mystery and the night.

However, not all cultures saw them as bearers of misfortune. In ancient Egypt, cats, including black ones, were venerated and believed to bring protection and good luck. Closer to home, the Scottish and Irish believe that these feline friends carry with them good fortune and prosperity instead.

Originally, jack-o'-lanterns were created from hollowed-out turnips, which, if you ask us, sounds terrifyingly tedious. The transition to pumpkins, however, wasn't just about taste—it was believed that the glowing gourds with menacing faces would help keep malevolent spirits at bay and guide the spirits of the dead.

The practice of carving lanterns has its roots in ancient Celtic customs, particularly the festival of Samhain, when it is believed that the boundary between the living and the spirit world was blurred. Carved lanterns were used to represent the spirits of the dead and to protect against unwelcome supernatural visitors.

Apple bobbing, while a fun competition, actually traces its roots back to divination. In ancient times, apples were believed to hold knowledge of the future. So, the next time you dunk your head into a tub of water to bite that apple, remember—you might just be on the brink of divining your destiny.

This activity was also thought to provide clues about a person's marriage prospects; a person who bit into an apple on the first attempt would have good luck in finding a spouse, while someone who struggled to catch an apple might face challenges in their romantic life.

The superstition of seven years of bad luck for breaking a mirror stems from the belief that one's reflection in a mirror is connected to their soul, hence shattering this connection was thought to bring misfortune. Some cultures believe that the body takes seven years to undergo a complete physical and spiritual regeneration, and breaking a mirror was thought to interfere with this process.

Other cultures saw mirrors as gateways to other dimensions and thought breakage to be a disruption, causing negative repercussions. Then again, this superstition might have been reinforced by the fact that mirrors were expensive during the Middle Ages, causing a fear of incurring significant financial loss.

Salt goes hand in hand with purity and is believed to neutralise negative energy or harmful influences, making it the perfect barrier against malevolent forces. Many create lines of salt around their properties during the spooky season as a part of protective rituals.

As you go about sprinkling salt barriers, remember—it's not just for seasoning your stew; it's also for safeguarding your home from ghostly guests and unseen threats.

Thanks to popular culture, bats are often linked to vampires, blood-sucking beasts that emerge at night. As night is linked to mystery and the unknown, these nocturnal creatures with eerie calls have long been seen as omens of impending doom.

Certain cultures also link bats to the afterlife, making them into messengers or symbols of transition between life and death. However, bats are incredibly adaptable animals, and their ability to navigate in the dark has led to some positive associations with resilience and resourcefulness.

These web-spinning creatures that lurk in the dark are steeped in diverse superstitions. In many cultures, spiders are used as symbols or motifs in folklore and myths. They can represent creativity and craftsmanship, as seen in the Greek myth of Arachne. Alternatively, they may be linked to deception and cunning, such as in the story of Anansi.

Some believe that seeing a spider on Halloween means a departed loved one is watching over you; other cultures associate them with dark magic, underscoring the range of beliefs surrounding these arachnids.