Each year 2 billion dollars is spent on Halloween candy. Now that's a lot of candy -- and cavities! What's the most popular Halloween candy?

1
Each year 2 billion dollars is spent on Halloween
candy. Now that's a lot of candy -- and
cavities!What's the most popular Halloween
candy? Snickers tops the list for
trick-or-treaters.
2
More than 35 million pounds of candy corn will be
produced this year. That equates to nearly 9
billion pieces -- enough to circle the moon
nearly four times if laid end-to-end.
3
Did you know that chocolate is better for your
teeth than hard candy? Chocolate rinses more
easily from the mouth by saliva, leaving it in
contact with teeth for a shorter time. Chocolate
also contains tannins, which inhibit the action
of cavity-causing bacteria. Finally, a good
excuse to indulge!
4
Tootsie Rolls were the first wrapped penny candy
in America.Halloween's roots can be traced
back to Celtic culture in Ireland.
5

According to their "Druid" religion, November 1st
was New Years' on their calendar. The celebration
would begin on October 31st ,and last into the
following day. The spirits of all who died in the
prior year, would rise up and roam the earth on
this night.
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Halloween as we know it today, has grown from the
ancient Druid Holiday. Along the way both fun and
frights have been added to the mix.
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Halloween is second only to Christmas in
spending. Consumers will spend over 2.5 billion
during Halloween. That's a whole lot of candy,
costumes, decorations, and party goods.
8
Pumpkins originated in Central America. They were
used then (and now) as a food crop. When
Europeans arrived in the New World, they found
pumpkins plentiful and used in cooking by Native
Americans. They took seeds back to Europe where
they quickly became popular.
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There are no words in the dictionary that rhyme
with orange? Hard to believe for such an
important color? The same is true for the colors
purple and silver. But, who cares about silver
and purple...they are not pumpkin colors!
10
Top prize money for the biggest giant pumpkin is
as much as 25,000 dollars at fall festivals. The
current world record for giant pumpkins is 1140
pounds.
11
The Irish carved turnips and put coals or small
candles inside. They were placed outside their
homes on All Hallow's Eve to ward off evil
spirits. They were also known to use potatoes and
rutabagas.
12
When Irish immigrants came to America, they
quickly discovered that Jack O Lanterns were
much easier to carve out and began using them.
This truly neat tradition quickly spread to the
general population in America and elsewhere.
13
It is believed that the Irish began the tradition
of Trick or Treating. In preparation for All
Hallow's Eve, Irish townsfolk would visit
neighbors and ask for contributions of food for a
feast in the town.
14
It's not uncommon for people to be afraid of
Halloween. In fact, there's even a name for this
fear Samhainophobia.
15
Common names for Halloween are All Hallows Eve,
Samhain, All Hallowtide and The Feast of the
Dead. Orange and black became Halloween colors
because of orange is associated with harvests and
black is associated with death.
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"Hallow" is an old word meaning holy, while
"e'en" is Scottish for evening. A cup of candy
corn has fewer calories than a cup of raisins.
17
Bobbing for apples is played around a tub of
water with floating apples the winner is the
first one to pick up an apple with their teeth.  
Traditionally, the winner was predicted to be the
next to get married. 
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Submitted by Sara Fierst, University of
Wisconsin, Platteville