If you live in the GTA, Halloween may be the last thing on your mind with all the wind and rain we’re getting. That’s why we thought we’d share some fearful facts about the spookiest night of the year to help get you into the spirit of things!

To kick things off, here’s a quick history lesson. Halloween is thought to have evolved from the ancient Celtic festival of the dead known as Samhain (Sah-ween), and was the night when the Celts believed spirits of the dead could mingle with the living. The Celtic solution to this unusual pest problem… sacrifice a few animals (hide Fluffy), leave treats on the porch for any ghoulish gastronomes, and most importantly, wear a disguise so the spirits couldn’t recognize them. There’s nothing worse than a disgruntled ghost looking to reclaim the ox you borrowed and never returned!

After a few years (quite a few actually) the tradition grew into the hyperglycemic ‘holiday’ we all know and love today. Fortunately there are no more sacrifices (except our waistlines), and nobody believes we see dead people. Despite all that, Halloween has gotten scarier than ever! Check out the freakish facts below:
3,734,401 – The number of trick-or-treaters, aged five to 14, in Canada*.
(I should’ve been a dentist)
13.3 million – The number of households across Canada that could potentially be mined for candy*.
(Or egged)
$21.6 million – The total value of all costumes manufactured in Canada last year*.
(Mr. Dressup would be proud)
$355.9 million – The amount of candy sold across Canada last October*.
(That’s a lot of upset tummies!)
$276.2 million – The average amount of candy sold across Canada for the rest of the year*.
(Valentine’s Day is planning to expand beyond chocolates)
850 – The number of Canadians who reported that they were Satanists in 2001, up from 340 in 1991*.
(A few have filed questionable expense claims in the senate)
9,575 – The number of Canadians who reported their religion as “Wicca” in 2001*.
(That’s a lot of witchy women)
From the friendly ghosts at DNA, have a safe and spooktacular Halloween.
*Statistics Canada – http://www42.statcan.gc.ca/smr08/2013/smr08_179_2013-eng.htm