Five Real-Life Halloween Origin Stories

Mocking the devil: Back in the days when Christians first co-opted Halloween as All Hallows' Eve, they believed the best way to fight the devil was by mocking him with the red horns and a tail, hoping it would cause him to flee.

Jack-o'-lantern: Irish legend has it that a thief named Jack could not enter heaven or hell, and was doomed to live a life in darkness if not for a glowing lantern he made out of a turnip. Since then, turnips or beets, and now pumpkins, were used to create jack-o'-lanterns to honor lost souls and scare away evil spirits.

Daylight savings time: Candy companies lobbied Congress to extend daylight savings time into the first week of November to get an extra hour of daylight for trick-or-treaters. They wanted it so badly that during the 1985 hearings on daylight savings, they put candy pumpkins on each senator's chair.

Halloween costumes: During the Celtic festival of Samhain, the dead were said to walk the earth, so the Celts would wear costumes and masks to ward off or befuddle any evil spirits.

Day of the Dead: People often attribute Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, as a Mexican version of Halloween. However, this holiday embraces death rather than fears it. On this day, the spirits of the dead return to earth, guided by the aroma of marigold and incense to the shrine set up for them by their families, celebrating their return.

For more Halloween fun, head over to Life Noggin for the History of Trick-Or-Treating. Or watch our video on tainted Halloween candy, or...it just might kill you. Thanks for watching.