The Spill: Mummies Discovered

The Story Behind Halloween

Halloween wasn’t always the fun, carefree event it is today. The holiday originated with the Celtic people, who lived in what is now Britain and Ireland. The Celts did have some fun and even dressed up in costumes, but overall it was a serious occasion that involved the entire village. The tradition started, as far as we know, at least 2,000 years ago with the ancient festival known as Samhain (pronounced “sow-win”). The festivities lasted from October 31 to November 1.

Samhain was the end of the Celtic calendar year; it marked the end of the light half of the year (summer) and the beginning of the dark (winter) times.

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Are You Too Old To Go Trick-Or-Treating?

Are you or your friends too old to go trick-or-treating? According to Chesapeake, Virginia and other cities, anyone over 12 has no business dressing up as their favorite Marvel character and knocking on doors for candy. Various news outlets recently reported that Chesapeake has a law on the books banning teenagers from going trick-or-treating on Halloween.

Chesapeake city officials recently announced that trick-or-treaters older than 12 could be imprisoned for up to six months and receive between $25 and $100 in fines. Sounds pretty harsh, doesn’t it?

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Look out for the Blue Pumpkin

Halloween is a time of fun that kids and adults look forward to each autumn. Costumes are fretted over, spooky masked faces appear in the neighborhood, and – most importantly – kids on the prowl repeating “trick-or-treat” at each door are hauling in a year’s worth of the best candy. Yet not every kid is comfortable with the holiday: Those on the Autism spectrum tend to have a more difficult time enjoying themselves.

Now parents are trying a new approach to ensure all kids have a more enjoyable trick-or-treating experience.

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Mummies Discovered in Egypt – But That’s Nothing to Fear

Just in time for Halloween, archaeologists in Egypt found 30 coffins with perfectly preserved mummies inside. The mummies were buried double-stacked and included 23 adult males, five adult females, and two children. Archaeologists were able to identify the genders by the carvings on the coffins, said Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities. If the coffin was carved to show open hands, the person inside was a female, while those with hands balled into fists contained males.

Unlike what is shown in some popular scary movies, people were not usually mummified as a punishment or for fear they might return and extract revenge. In fact, only pharaohs, nobility, and the rich were usually able to afford the high price.

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