Happy Halloween!
October 31, 2023
Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from the Digs Swansea team!

Halloween graphic: Ghost with

We hope everyone has a spooky evening! Below we have listed some fun facts about Halloween:
1) The origins of Halloween began 2,000 years ago
The first Halloween celebrations can be traced back to the ancient Celts who lived in the area now occupied by Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, and celebrated a festival called Samhain on October 31st.
2) You’ve been spelling Halloween wrong!
Don’t worry I have too! Although Halloween is now the accepted spelling the correct way is actually Hallowe’en. Halloween derives from All Hallows Eve which is why the correct spelling has an apostrophe in it.
3)  A full moon on Halloween is extremely rare
Halloween photos usually depict a full moon that is beaming, but a full moon occurring on Halloween only occurs three or four times every century. On average, the moon is full every 19 years on Halloween, with the last occurrence in 2020! So, unfortunately, we could be waiting a while for the next one.
4)Trick -or-treating has been around for a long time
The roots of trick-or-treating date back to the Samhain festival, where people would prepare banquet tables with food left out to placate unwelcome spirits.In later centuries, people began to perform antics in exchange for food and drink. This custom dates back to the Middle Ages and is thought to be an antecedent of trick-or-treating. By the 19th century, trick-or-treating got a little adventurous; trick-or-treaters would do doorstep performances of dancing, singing and telling jokes for their treat, a tradition known as mumming.
5) S amhainophobia is the fear of Halloween
Samhainophobia is a term rooted in ancient pagan traditions, defined as an unwarranted fear of Halloween!
6) Wh ile pumpkins are typically orange, they can also be green, white, red and blue
One of the first signs of Autumn you will notice is when orange pumpkins line the shelves of supermarkets or Instagram is full pumpkin picking pictures! However, did you know that there are several other pumpkin colours to enjoy including white pumpkins, yellow pumpkins and even blue!
7) Bla ck and orange are typically associated with Halloween
Whilst this Halloween fact may not come as a surprise, did you know the significance of the two colours? It is said that orange is the symbol of strength and endurance, as well as representing autumn, whilst black represents the cold and dark winter and as a symbol of death, acting as a reminder that Halloween once was a festival that celebrated the spirits of the dead.
8) America ns are BIG spenders! 
In the USA, an es In the USA, an estimated £4.3 billion is spent on Halloween celebrations.
9) Here in the UK we spend big too! 
Halloween lures more and more people towards its festive and spooky spirit in the United Kingdom with us Brits spending around £474 million!

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The Halloween Quiz!

By Oliver Wright • October 31, 2026
How well do you know Halloween in Wales? Wales has its own Halloween traditions, and some of them are actually pretty strange. So we thought we would put together a quick quiz and see how much you know about Calan Gaeaf and some of the old Welsh Halloween traditions. 1. What is the Welsh name for Halloween? A) Calan Gaeaf B) Calan Mai C) Gŵyl Dewi D) Noson Nadolig 2. What is the Hwch Ddu Gwta? A) A headless horse B) A tailless black sow C) A Welsh witch D) A giant black dog 3. What does Ladi Wen mean? A) The Black Lady B) The Old Lady C) The White Lady D) The Witch Lady 4. What was traditionally lit as part of Halloween celebrations in Wales? A) Lanterns B) Bonfires C) Candles D) Torches 5. According to old Welsh folklore, what could happen if you were the last person to leave the Halloween fire? A) The White Lady would appear B) The Hwch Ddu Gwta could get you C) You would have bad luck for a year D) You would have to relight the fire 6. Which of these is actually part of Welsh Halloween folklore? A) The Tailless Black Sow B) The Pumpkin King C) The Red Dragon Witch D) The Swansea Skeleton 7. Calan Gaeaf traditionally marked the start of what? A) Spring B) Summer C) Autumn D) Winter 8. According to old Welsh beliefs, when were ghosts said to appear at the stiles? A) Sunrise B) Midday C) Midnight D) Lunchtime 9. You are walking home after a Halloween night out in Swansea and hear something behind you. What are you doing? A) Turning around B) Running C) Pretending you heard nothing D) Texting the group chat We are not saying there is a right answer to this one. 10. Last one. Which would you least want to see on your walk home? A) The Ladi Wen B) The Hwch Ddu Gwta C) A massive spider D) A seagull that has spotted your chips So, how did you do? 8–10: You actually know your Welsh Halloween stuff 5–7: Not bad 2–4: You clearly need to do some reading 0–1: Probably best to stay inside this Halloween The answers A — Calan Gaeaf B — A tailless black sow C — The White Lady B — Bonfires B — The Hwch Ddu Gwta could get you A — The Tailless Black Sow D — Winter C — Midnight Questions 9 and 10 are just for fun.

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