Haunting History
Halloween, or 'All Hallows' Eve', is celebrated on October 31 and stems from traditions all around the world. Halloween originated from the Celtic festival, Samhain, in which pagans took stock and prepared for winter, often celebrating with bonfires and costumes to mimic evil spirits. As Halloween night is the night in which the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is thinnest, it's much safer to be in disguise. Bonfires and scary costumes are still a common occurance in Halloween celebrations, as well as the US-influenced 'trick or treating' and the symbolic Jack'o'lantern.
Freaky Facts
- - Jack'o'lanterns were originally made from turnips.
- - Bonfire is thought to come from the words 'bone' & 'fire' as druids would throw cattle bones into the flames.
- - The fastest pumpkin carver in the world is Jerry Ayers from Ohio, who carved a pumpkin in 37 seconds!
- - The movie 'Halloween' was made in just 21 days.
- - In Guatemala, people fashion and fly kites in cemeteries as part of their Halloween traditions.
The Spirits of the City
- - Charles I has frequently been seen wandering around Christ Church College without his head.
- - It's not just revelling students who can be heard on May morning - the nuns at Godstow Nunnery, Wolvercote serenade those gathered on Port Meadow as dawn breaks.
- - When staying in Oxford, make sure to avoid Room 16 at the Bear Inn, Woodstock if you're not keen on flickering lights, moving objects or ghostly footsteps.
- - Keep an eye out for Rosamund the Fair when visiting the Trout - jealous Queen Eleanor killed the pretty lady when she found out about Rosa's 'friendship' with King Henry II.
Spooky symbols
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Bats: Believed to be drawn towards the Samhain bonfires.
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Cats: Associated with witches. Samhain druids are said to have thrown cats on their bonfires in wicker cages!
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Scarecrows: Symbolise the harvest for winter.
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Apples (apple-bobbing): Thought to come from the Roman harvest festival, Pomona, also the name of the goddess of harvest.
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Ghosts: The spirits of the dead who are appeased by the Halloween festivities.
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Orange & black: This one's simple: orange for autumn and black for darkness and night.
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Spiders: A web is a cycle of life so the spiders who spin them were sometimes thought to have mystical powers.
Eerie-sistable events
Nosferatu [PG] Magdalen College Chapel This event ended on 24th June 2019 Browse similar events?
Halloween Special Emporium/Basement This event ended on 2nd November 2019 Browse similar events?
Pick Your Own Pumpkins by Torchlight Millets Farm Centre This event ended on 29th October 2022 Browse similar events?
Ghostly + Gothic creative writing workshop Online
"Just completed Meddling with poetry, 8 sessions over 8 weeks. With the mega Megan Kerr of WWW.thewritersgreenhouse.co.uk.Somehow...read more
Ghost Fest - Halloween Festival at Oxford Castle and Prison Oxford Castle and Prison This event ended on 2nd November 2019 Browse similar events?
The Shining [18] Odeon George Street This event ended on 29th October 2019 Browse similar events?
Halloween Hoot Millets Farm Centre This event ended on 31st October 2019 Browse similar events?
The Exorcist [18] Phoenix Picturehouse This event ended on 2nd October 2023 Browse similar events?
Night of the Living Dead [15] Phoenix Picturehouse This event ended on 16th October 2022 Browse similar events?
Half term Spooky Science Science Oxford Centre This event ended on 31st October 2020 Browse similar events?
Fishies Halloween Special Ft Special Guest O2 Academy Oxford This event ended on 30th October 2021 Browse similar events?
Spooky Dusk Walk Earth Trust Centre This event ended on 30th October 2019 Browse similar events?
Herbal Remedies workshop at Cogges Cogges Farm This event ended on 30th October 2021 Browse similar events?
Halloween with Snowflake Books at Blackwell's 48-51 Broad Street, OX1 3BQ Oxford, Oxfordshire This event ended on 29th October 2019 Browse similar events?
Halloween Karaoke Evening Florence Park Community Centre This event ended on 29th October 2022 Browse similar events?
Pumpkins & Pizza Flo's - The Place in the Park This event ended on 25th October 2019 Browse similar events?
Halloween [15] Odeon George Street This event ended on 30th October 2020 Browse similar events?
Halloween at Waddesdon Waddesdon Manor, Silk Street, Waddesdon, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP18 0JH This event ended on 31st October 2021 Browse similar events?
Horrible Halloween at Waddesdon Waddesdon Manor, HP18 0JH This event ended on 3rd November 2019 Browse similar events?
80s Halloween Party The Seven Stars This event ended on 1st November 2019 Browse similar events?
The Exorcist Director's Cut [18] Ultimate Picture Palace (UPP) This event ended on 31st October 2021 Browse similar events?
Pumpkin, Squash & Honey Sale Oxford City Farm This event ended on 23rd October 2020 Browse similar events?
Pumpkin Sale & Apple Pressing Oxford City Farm This event ended on 26th October 2019 Browse similar events?
October Half-Term at Waddesdon Waddesdon Manor This event ended on 30th October 2022 Browse similar events?
Kids' Club: The Book of Life [U] (2D) Phoenix Picturehouse This event ended on 28th October 2023 Browse similar events?
The Shining [18] Odeon George Street This event ended on 31st October 2023 Browse similar events?
Halloween at Blenheim Palace Blenheim Palace This event ended on 29th October 2023 Browse similar events?
Cogges Witchs House After Dark LIVE - Grimm's Fairy Tales Cogges Farm This event ended on 28th October 2023 Browse similar events?
The Exorcist [18] Vue Cinema This event ended on 29th September 2023 Browse similar events?
Sliced Tomatoes Presents: POISONED PUMPKINS Tap Social Movement This event ended on 28th October 2023 Browse similar events?
Pumpkin Picking at Carrimers Farm Ridgeway Adventures, Activity Centre, Carrimers Farm, OX11 9DP This event ended on 31st October 2022 Browse similar events?
Pumpkin tea party Restore Garden Café This event ended on 31st October 2019 Browse similar events?
Halloween Family Fun Guided Tour Christ Church College This event ended on 26th October 2023 Browse similar events?
Halloween Makeup Workshop New Theatre, Oxford This event ended on 31st October 2019 Browse similar events?
Back To The 80s Halloween Party The Bullingdon This event ended on 28th October 2023 Browse similar events?
The Witch's House Cogges Farm This event ended on 31st October 2021 Browse similar events?
John Lawsons Halloween Circus Millets Farm Centre This event ended on 28th October 2023 Browse similar events?
Halloween Pumpkin Fun! Earth Trust Centre This event ended on 28th October 2019 Browse similar events?
Oxfordshire Pumpkin Festival 2022 Range of venues around Oxfordshire - see website page for more details. This event ended on 6th November 2022 Browse similar events?
Halloween Kids Disco Florence Park Community Centre This event ended on 31st October 2019 Browse similar events?
The Shining [18] Phoenix Picturehouse This event ended on 30th October 2022 Browse similar events?
Ghost Fest: Spooky Tours Oxford Castle and Prison This event ended on 1st November 2020 Browse similar events?
Pumpkin Picking at Ridgeway Adventures Ridgeway Adventures Activity Centre This event ended on 31st October 2023 Browse similar events?
Halloween Family Race The Race Hut This event ended on 31st October 2019 Browse similar events?
Maple Tree Halloween Party for 0-7 years Maple Tree Centre for Children and Families This event ended on 31st October 2019 Browse similar events?
Freak Out - Family Halloween Disco at Mollie's Diner Mollie's Motel & Diner, Shrivenham Road, A420, Buckland nr Faringdon, SN7 8PY This event ended on 25th October 2019 Browse similar events?
Halloween origami fold (all ages): Oxfordshire library online Oxfordshire County Library This event ended on 9th October 2021 Browse similar events?
Enrych Oxfordshire Online Halloween Competition enrychoxfordshire.org.uk This event ended on 31st October 2021 Browse similar events?
Twisted Disney Halloween Party The Oxford Blue This event ended on 31st October 2019 Browse similar events?
The Shining [18] Odeon Magdalen Street This event ended on 23rd October 2019 Browse similar events?
Halloween Axe Throwing Ridgeway Axe Throwing Range, Sheepcote Farm Mongewell, Wallingford OX10 8BP This event ended on 31st October 2021 Browse similar events?
SFX Makeup Masterclass with Hannah from Glow Up! Ages 13+ Pegasus Theatre This event ended on 31st October 2020 Browse similar events?
Oxford Pumpkin Festival 2019 Various venues This event ended on 3rd November 2019 Browse similar events?
The Witch's House Cogges Farm This event ended on 31st October 2022 Browse similar events?
Donnington Doorstep Pumpkin Party Donnington Doorstep Family Centre This event ended on 30th October 2019 Browse similar events?
Wreath-making: half term at halloween crafting workshop (kids) Restore Garden Café This event ended on 28th October 2019 Browse similar events?
Sandy Lane Farm Squash & Pumpkin Celebration Sandy Lane Farm This event ended on 27th October 2019 Browse similar events?
The Exorcist Director's Cut [18] Odeon George Street This event ended on 24th September 2021 Browse similar events?
Spooky Science Family Open Day Science Oxford Centre This event ended on 31st October 2020 Browse similar events?
Panic At The Disco The Bullingdon This event ended on 31st October 2022 Browse similar events?
The Rocky Horror Picture Show Tap Social Movement This event ended on 31st October 2023 Browse similar events?
Halloween Puppet Workshop Touring Oxford libraries This event ended on 2nd November 2019 Browse similar events?
The Shining [18] Phoenix Picturehouse This event ended on 28th October 2019 Browse similar events?
All Ages Halloween Party Partyman World Of Play This event ended on 24th October 2019 Browse similar events?
Halloween Toddler Party Cherwell School This event ended on 14th October 2023 Browse similar events?
Fishies O2 Academy Oxford This event ended on 15th December 2021 Browse similar events?
Visit The Witch’s House for Halloween half term fun Cogges Farm This event ended on 1st November 2020 Browse similar events?
Christ Church - Family Fun Halloween Tour Christ Church College This event ended on 27th October 2022 Browse similar events?
Cute and creepy felt critters: restore half term at halloween workshop Restore Garden Café This event ended on 29th October 2019 Browse similar events?
A brand new spooky Halloween trail for all the family at Blenheim Palace Blenheim Palace This event ended on 31st October 2021 Browse similar events?
Halloween Family Open Day Science Oxford Centre, Stansfeld Park, Quarry Road, Headington, Oxford, OX3 8SB This event ended on 31st October 2019 Browse similar events?
Fishies Halloween O2 Academy Oxford This event ended on 31st October 2022 Browse similar events?
Halloween at Waddesdon Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury, HP18 0JH This event ended on 1st November 2020 Browse similar events?
The Shining [18] Ultimate Picture Palace (UPP) This event ended on 31st October 2022 Browse similar events?
The Oxford Imps present: HALLOWEEN! West Oxford Community Centre This event ended on 31st October 2019 Browse similar events?
The Witch's House Cogges Farm This event ended on 31st October 2022 Browse similar events?
Wreath-making: half term at halloween crafting workshop (14+) Restore Garden Café This event ended on 28th October 2019 Browse similar events?
PYO Pumpkins Millets Farm Centre This event ended on 31st October 2023 Browse similar events?
Saved By The 90s Halloween Party The Bullingdon This event ended on 27th October 2023 Browse similar events?
The Exorcist [18] Curzon Oxford This event ended on 31st October 2023 Browse similar events?
Didcot Drag Race (Halloween Edition) Berro Lounge, 44 Orchard Street, Orchard Shopping Centre, OX11 7LG This event ended on 31st October 2019 Browse similar events?
Wheatley 2023 Halloween Scarecrow Trail Wheatley Village, Oxfordshire This event ended on 28th October 2023 Browse similar events?
Pumpkin carving and pumpkin painting: restore half term at halloween workshop Restore Garden Café This event ended on 30th October 2019 Browse similar events?
Halloween at Ridgeway Adventures: Pumpkin picking & monster hunting activities! Ridgeway Adventures, Activity Centre, Carrimers Farm, OX11 9DP This event ended on 31st October 2022 Browse similar events?
Haunted Half Term at Waddesdon Waddesdon Manor This event ended on 29th October 2023 Browse similar events?
The Exorcist [18] Odeon George Street This event ended on 3rd October 2023 Browse similar events?
The Exorcist [18] Odeon George Street This event ended on 9th October 2023 Browse similar events?
Light Party! Grace Church Cowley This event ended on 29th October 2023 Browse similar events?
Halloween Family Fun Guided Tour Christ Church College This event ended on 26th October 2023 Browse similar events?
The Shining [18] Phoenix Picturehouse This event ended on 31st October 2023 Browse similar events?