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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UCF chapter.

Nowadays, Halloween is all about candy, costumes, and fun. But there is a darker side of Halloween. Keep these in mind as you go from house-to-house, or rather party-to-party, this Halloween season. There is much more to this holiday than meets the eye.

*Disclaimer: Images below can be disturbing.

1. The Legend of the Stingy Jack

When you carve your pumpkins this Halloween season, you won’t realize the dark past that jack-o’-lanterns have. Legend has it that a man named Stingy Jack played many tricks on the Devil, even tricking him to turn himself into a coin. Jack made the Devil promise to not bother him for a year and if he died, the Devil could not claim his soul.

When Jack finally did die and went to Heaven, God found him unfit to enter. Then Jack went to Hell and since the Devil had promised Jack he would not claim his soul, Jack was left to roam the earth with only a burning coal for light. Jack fashioned into a turnip in his pocket, becoming Jack Of The Lantern.

2. Many Blacks Kitty-Kats Won’t Survive Past October

Black cats have a connection with dark, sinister activities dating back to the Dark Ages. With their association with witches and other sinister elements, black cats have become synonymous to bad luck and superstitions. Because of the negative perception of these felines, they are often killed more during the month of October.

3. Don’t Turn Around Halloween Night

Folklore claims that if you hear steps behind you on Halloween night, don’t turn around. It is said that death is following you, and will take you if you turn around to confront it.

4. When Decorations Aren’t Fake

Have you ever walked through a haunted house and thought the decorations were eerily realistic? Well it turns out your instincts have been right on certain occasions. There’s perceptions that some people hang themselves during Halloween. Yet, people do not report this during Halloween because it is believed they were decorations. Very creepy, so keep your eyes open. You never know when you may encounter a real corpse.  

5. Tales Have it That You Can Find Your Future Spouse or Death in the Mirror

Long ago, superstition were that if single women stood in front of a mirror in a darkened room, they would get a glimpse of their future husband’s face. Yet, if their destiny was they were going to die before getting married, a skull would appear in the mirror. Is it worth the risk?

Take what you have learned today as a grain of salt. But I would be weary on Halloween. It is the day that the veil between the dead and the living is the weakest.

Happy Halloween, dearies.

 

Photo credit:

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http://www.retailhellunderground.com/.a/6a00e54f10a098883401bb088047b6970d-pi

http://www.chicagonow.com/listing-toward-forty/files/2014/10/Halloween-t…

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Michelle is a UCF junior interdisciplinary studies major and marketing minor who loves Youtube, primetime tv shows, and her dog Pepper. Being that she is a new Knight, she loves all thing UCF, especially if her bae Knightro is involved. In her spare time, you can find Michelle hanging out with friends, binge-watching her favorite Youtubers, or jamming to BillBoard Top 100. If you are at a lost for words when talking to Michelle, bring up her celeb crush Tom Hiddleston and you will be set for life. She really loves that man. Follow her on Twitter for insight on UCF and everything else bouncing around in her brain! 
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