Know it all

***

An average of $49.27 per person is spent each year on Halloween-related activities.

***

When the Irish immigrated to America they changed their Halloween custom somewhat. In Ireland, the tradition was to carve turnips. In America, they found pumpkins plentiful and easier to carve.

***

Of all the pumpkins grown and sold in North America, 90 percent become jack o’lanterns.

***

Canadian Al Eaton made the Guinness Book of World Records this month by growing the largest pumpkin in the world. His pumpkin weighed 1,446 pounds, breaking the record over last year’s biggest pumpkin by 66 pounds.

***

A pumpkin that weighs 1,000 pounds has a circumference of about 15 feet. While on the vine, a pumpkin that large gains between 10 to 20 pounds each day.

***

Do you know who said "There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: Religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin.” See answer at end.

***

The most popular selling presidential mask overall is that of Ronald Reagan in his 1984 presidential glory.

***

Halloween decorations adorn 65 percent of American homes and offices. Christmas is the only holiday with more decorations displayed.

***

A full moon rarely occurs on Halloween. The next full moon on Oct. 31 will be in the year 2020.

***

The 1978 movie "Halloween” is one of the highest grossing independent films ever made. The low-budget film cost $300,000 to make, and grossed $75 million worldwide. The movie launched the career of actress Jamie Lee Curtis and inspired the whole genre of slasher films.

***

Candy corn — seems like people either love it or hate it. No matter how you feel about it, the treat is available year round, with a name that fits the season. Reindeer corn is available for Christmas, the colors are red, green and white. There’s Cupid corn for Valentine’s Day, colored red, pink and white. Pastel colored Bunny Corn is for sale at Easter.

***

A cup of candy corn has fewer calories than a cup of raisins.

***

It is illegal to sell a haunted house in the state of New York without disclosing to the buyer that it is haunted. The New York State Appellate Court established the rule in 1990.

***

The White House is said to be inhabited by the ghost of Abraham Lincoln. His presence is felt the most in the Lincoln Bedroom, of course.

***

Snickers candy bars are the preferred treat that people would like to receive in their trick-or-treat bags. M&Ms and Hershey bars are also high on the list.

***

Remember using kitchen knives to carve pumpkins? Those days are over, thanks to Pumpkin Masters. Patented in 1986, the carving kits include design templates, saws and pokers. The company got a big publicity and sales boost in 1988, when pumpkins carved with the faces of ABC-TV announcers were featured during the Monday Night Football Halloween game.

***

Celebrity birthdays on Halloween include John Candy (1950-1994), Michael Landon (1936-1991) and Jane Pauley (born 1950).

Answer: That line was spoken by Linus van Pelt in the 1966 Peanuts television special "It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” In the show, Linus spends Halloween night in a pumpkin patch waiting for the Great Pumpkin to come and give him gifts. Sally, Charlie Brown’s little sister, impatiently waits with him. The rest of the gang goes trick-or-treating. Everyone gets candy, except for lovable loser Charlie Brown, who only gets rocks.

Know It All is by Kerry McArdle. It runs in the weekend and Wednesday editions of the Daily Journal. Questions? Comments?

E-mail knowitall@smdailyjournal.com or call 344-5200 x114.