Happy Ghosts and Goblins to you … learn about the history of Halloween and what National Premium did to celebrate in Wisconsin!
Straddling the line between fall and winter, plenty and paucity, life and death, Halloween is a time of celebration and superstition. It is thought to have originated with the 
ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts.
In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints and martyrs; the holiday, All Saints’ Day, incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows’ Eve and later Halloween.
Over time, Halloween evolved into a secular, community-based event characterized by child-friendly activities such as trick-or-
treating. In a number of countries around the world, as the days grow shorter and the nights get colder, people continue to usher in the winter season with gatherings, costumes and sweet treats.
Here at National Premium, employees dressed in costumes and trick-or-treated the new hires in the office —a great way to get to know new faces! We had a scarecrow, black bunny, devil, goth girl, and others. To top it off, we are providing an on-site flu shot clinic at our Wisconsin location on Halloween Day (what’s scarier than a shot in the arm on Halloween?!?)
Every October, carved pumpkins peer out from porches and doorsteps. The practice of decorating “jack-o’-lanterns”—the name comes from an Irish folktale about a man named Stingy Jack—originated in Ireland, where large turnips and potatoes served as an early canvas. Irish immigrants brought the tradition to America, home of the pumpkin, and it became an integral part of Halloween festivities.
FUN FACTS: The largest pumpkin pie ever baked was in 2005 and weighed 2,020 
pounds.
FUN FACTS: In 1584, after French explorer Jacques Cartier explored the St. Lawrence region of North America, he reported finding “gros melons.” The name was translated into English as “pompions,” which has since evolved into the modern “pumpkin.”
FUN FACTS: Pumpkin seeds should be planted between the last week of May and the middle of June. They take between 90 and 120 days to grow and are picked in October when they are bright orange in color. Their seeds can be saved to grow new pumpkins the next year.
All that is left to say is “Happy Halloween!”
www.history.com
