Monday, October 23, 2023

Halloween Words

Halloween is one of the most beloved (and bedeviling) occasions of the year. Halloween is that one special night of the year when all of the spooky specters and menacing monsters come out to give everybody a severe case of the heebie-jeebies—and eat a ton of candy! Halloween isn’t just a great night for scares and sweets, though, as it also plays host to a ton of awesome words.  Here are a dozen of our favorite Halloween-related words that help to make October 31 such an eerie and spectacular day of the year. Personally, I would like to send my heartfelt prayers and condolences to those who lost their lives and their loved ones at a Halloween event held in the street of Itaewon, South Korea in the year of 2022.

 


    1.   _________________’s Eve is another name for Halloween. Although Halloween is not a religious holiday, it occurs the night before the Christian holiday of All Saint’s Day held on November 1. In fact, the name Halloween is a shortening of __________________’s Eve, which is a day to honor all of the Christian saints.

 

    2.   “____________ or ___________!” This thinly-veiled threat is said by children in the hopes of getting candy (a treat) with the implication that they will play a prank (a trick) on a candyless homeowner. Of course, costumed children say this phrase even if they don’t plan to prank anyone. And this phrase also refers to the act of wearing a Halloween costume while going door to door to ask for candy.

 

    3.   Traditionally, the meanest, cruelest tricks are reserved for the unfortunate souls who give out ______________________, an often controversial candy. It’s not corn, it’s debatably candy—so what is it? (And what’s your take on the other great food debates?) Like most candy, ________________________ is mostly made out of sugar and corn syrup. Other ingredients usually include vanilla flavoring or marshmallow creme.

 

    4.   A ______________________________ is a hollowed out pumpkin that has a face carved into it with a candle inside. But just who is the Jack in jack-o’-lantern? According to one particular Irish legend, they are named after a character named Stingy Jack. Long story short, Stingy Jack liked to play tricks on the Devil, who got his revenge once Jack died. Jack was cursed to wander the dark night with only a candle to light his way, which he carried in a lantern carved out of vegetables. This ghostly wanderer was called “________________________” Spooky!

 

    5.   Awoooooo!~~ A _______________ is a human being that has turned into a wolf (or wolf monster) and is usually capable of frequently transforming between man and beast. The word comes from the Old English werwulf, which is a combination of the word wer, meaning “man,” and wulf, meaning “wolf.”

 

    6.   The word _______________ can refer to an evil spirit, a demon, or any wicked creature or person. Sometimes, it is specifically used to refer to Satan, the Devil himself. Yikes! Sometimes, though, this word is used informally to mean someone is addicted to something or is really interested in it. For example, someone might be called a coffee ________________ or a poker _______________.

 

    7.   If you see something scary, you can shout _______________________________to express your shock or terror. This exclamation is actually an altering of the name Jesus Christ.

 

 

    8.   Watch out that a witch doesn’t put a spell on you. ____________-_____________ is a phrase that is chanted when casting spells or hexes, similar to words like abracadabra or alakazam. This can also refer to trickery, deception, or parlor tricks.

 

*Source from dictionary.com



Answer Keys  

    1.  Allhallow’s Eve

    2.  Trick or treat!

    3.  Candy corn

    4.  Jack-o-lantern

    5.  Werewolf

    6.  Fiend

    7.  Jeepers creepers

    8.  Hocus-pocus

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