"Where Did Halloween Originate From?" — Who Smarted? (Oct 31, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this spirited and laugh-out-loud episode, host Adam Tex Davis and trusty neighbor Addie (dressed as a cheese puff) embark on a trick-or-treating adventure that doubles as a crash course through the spooky, fascinating origins of Halloween. The episode masterfully blends humor, interactive trivia, fun sound effects, and rich historical storytelling to answer the question: Where did our Halloween traditions actually come from? Listeners discover how ancient rituals, medieval customs, and modern traditions all shaped the holiday kids (and adults) love today.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ancient Celtic Roots of Halloween

• Samhain – The Festival of the Dying Sun
  • Halloween traces its beginnings to the Celts over 2,000 years ago in Ireland, the UK, and France.
  • Samhain (pronounced “Sow-in”) marked the end of summer and the start of winter, a time linked with fear, death, and uncertainty.
  • [05:24] Adam: "Their new year started on November 1, the beginning of winter, which was when, sadly, a lot of people would die of disease and hunger and cold. It was a very scary time."
• Ghosts and Jack-o’-Lantern Precursors
  • Celts believed that the dead roamed the earth during Samhain.
  • Scary faces were carved—not into pumpkins, but potatoes or turnips—to fend off evil spirits.
  • [06:29] Addie: “Hey, just like Jack O lanterns.”
  • [06:31] Adam: “Exactly. They might have used pumpkins, too, except there weren’t any pumpkins in that part of the world.”
• Costume Origins & Fortune-Telling
  • People left food out for ghosts and wore ghost costumes to avoid being noticed by spirits.
  • Celtic priests (Druids) and common folk practiced fortune-telling on Samhain night.
  • [06:41] Adam: “If a Celt had to leave their house that night, they’d wear a ghost costume so the ghosts would think they were also a ghost and leave them alone.”
• Communal Rituals
  • Activities included bonfires, animal-skin costumes, fortune-telling, and lighting home fires from the communal bonfire for protection.

2. Roman and Christian Influence

• Roman Festivals
  • When Romans conquered the Celts (around 43 A.D.), they mixed in their own festivals, including:
    • Feralia: honoring the dead
    • A festival for Pomona, goddess of fruit and trees—possibly the root of apple-bobbing.
  • [08:16] Adam: "There was also a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of trees and fruit, which may be how bobbing for apples became a Halloween tradition."
• Christian Adaptation
  • By the 8th century, Pope Gregory III established All Saints’ Day (Nov 1), and “All Hallows’ Eve” (Oct 31) became “Halloween.”
  • All Souls’ Day (Nov 2) was added in the 11th century.
  • [08:57] Addie: “This is starting to get confusing.”
  • [08:59] Adam: "The point is, different cultures changed the names and traditions slightly...It was always about the beginning of winter and honoring the dead."

3. From "Souling" to Trick-or-Treating

• Medieval Traditions
  • Poor people would go house-to-house asking for food or money in exchange for praying for the family’s dead—a practice called “souling.”
  • [09:49] Addie: “Makes sense. But what about the candy?”

4. Halloween in America

• Colonial Adaptation
  • English, Irish, and other European immigrants brought their customs to America.
  • The holiday blended with Native American harvest celebrations, especially in the South.
  • [10:44] Brandon: "I'm really enjoying this multicolored corn they have. We should make a small, chewy, triangular candy based on it." (wink to candy corn)
• Jack-o’-Lanterns Get Pumpkins
  • The Irish, upon finding pumpkins native to America, began carving them instead of turnips.
  • [11:38] Adam: "Correct. Jack o' Lantern was born."
• Evolution from Spooky to Sweet
  • Originally centered on religious themes, honoring the dead, and surviving winter, Halloween in America gradually became more about celebration and fun.
  • By the early 20th century, it was associated with mischief and sometimes vandalism (“Mischief Night”).
  • [12:24] Adam: “Trick or treating probably started in the 1920s, but Halloween became associated with the tricks more than the treats…”

5. Modern Trick-or-Treat and Candy Craze

• Kid-Friendly Reinvention (1950s–1960s)
  • Towns encouraged children to go door-to-door in costumes for treats, redirecting Halloween from pranks to candy-collecting fun.
  • [13:05] Adam: "The 1950s and 60s is when trick or treating really became the biggest part of Halloween."
• The Business of Halloween
  • Americans now spend around $6 billion a year on Halloween, second only to Christmas.
  • [14:41] Adam: “The only holiday Americans spend more on is Christmas. And a quarter of all of the candy sold throughout the entire year is for Halloween.”
• Costume Boom—Even for Pets!
  • Not just for kids—now even pets get in on the costume fun.
  • [14:50] Addie: "My dog Juju’s going as Taylor Swift this year."
• The Spirit Remains Fun
  • Halloween transitioned from fear and superstition to community and fun, with spookiness served up in good humor.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [05:24] Adam:
  “Their new year started on November 1, the beginning of winter, which was when, sadly, a lot of people would die of disease and hunger and cold. It was a very scary time. The days were short. The night was black. The electricity didn’t exist yet.”
• [06:41] Adam:
  “If a Celt had to leave their house that night, they’d wear a ghost costume so the ghosts would think they were also a ghost and leave them alone.”
• [08:57] Addie/Adam Exchange:
  “This is starting to get confusing.” — Addie
  “I know, I know. The point is, different cultures changed the names and traditions slightly, mainly because they were trying to take over the previous culture. But what actually did on that day was always kind of the same.” — Adam
• [13:41] Adam:
  “Hey, smartypants, can you guess how much money Americans spend on Halloween every year? ... Try D, $6 billion. Whoa. Yeah. Whoa. The only holiday Americans spend more on is Christmas.”
• [15:08] Addie/Adam Exchange:
  "So let me get this straight. Halloween began as a way to deal with the scary reality of life. Then it kept evolving and changing as different cultures joined. Until it became more about fun and making money than beliefs. And then it stopped evolving." — Addie
  “Yep. Nailed it. Smart kid. Now, if you allow me, I will tell your fortune. I predict you’ll have an awesome night of trick or treating, after which you’ll eat one or two candies and brush your teeth very very well before you go to bed.” — Adam

Fun Interactions & Trivia

• Listeners are invited to shout out their favorite candy [03:59].
• Periodic silly interludes: “It’s a giant talking cheese puff!” [03:02], “My dog Juju's going as Taylor Swift…” [14:50].
• Interactive quiz: Listeners guess US Halloween spending [13:41].

Key Takeaways

• Halloween’s traditions stem from ancient efforts to face and understand the scary side of life—darkness, death, and winter—through community, ritual, and imagination.
• Over the centuries, the holiday’s customs evolved, blending Celtic, Roman, and Christian practices, and morphed in America into today’s candy-fueled, costume-packed celebration.
• While the roots are spooky and serious, modern Halloween is about fun, laughter, creativity, and—of course—candy.

Suggested Listening Segments

• [05:00–07:35] — The origins of Samhain, jack-o’-lanterns, and costumes
• [08:14–09:49] — Roman and Christian influences, “souling,” and All Hallows’ Eve
• [11:36–12:24] — Pumpkins, the rise of Halloween in America, and the “mischief” years
• [13:05–14:35] — The trick-or-treat boom, modern candy traditions, and staggering Halloween statistics
• [15:08–15:22] — Recap and fun, fortune-telling finale

Final Thoughts

This "Who Smarted?" episode captures exactly why Halloween captivates young minds: it’s a tale of mystery, transformation, and fun, told with wit, warmth, and irresistible interactivity. By the end, kids (and adults) are not just a little bit smarter—but also a lot more excited for their next spooky, sweet adventure.