Illustration of an orange witch wearing a black robe and hat on an orange and yellow background with black text.

Hex life is a clever play on the phrase "sex life". Discussing one's sexual relations, i.e. my sex life has never been more fantastic, is often referred to as a candid or racy topic of conversation and such a phrase might be used only in conversations with close company. Witches are associated with hexes and the word hex first appeared in American English in 1830, from the following etymology:  Pennsylvania German hexe "to practice witchcraft", German hexen "to hex”, related to Hexe "witch," from Middle High German hecse, hexse, from Old High German hagazussa.

Orange and black illustration of a jack-o-lantern on a black background

The Jack O’Lantern is often correlated with American Halloween, however the legend and activity of carving pumpkins actually originated in Ireland. Instead of carving pumpkins as is popular in the U.S., the Irish people carved other vegetables like turnips or potatoes. 

In fact, the name “Jack O’Lantern” originates from Irish folklore. According to legend, a man named “Stingy Jack” invited the Devil to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack did not want to pay for his drink, and convinced the Devil to turn into a coin so that he could buy the drinks. He then forced the devil to stay in the form of a coin and put the coin in his pocket next to his cross. Stingy Jack tricked the Devil a few more times, always with the security of the cross surrounding him. However, when Stingy Jack died, God does not let him into Heaven and the Devil did not let him into Hell—leaving Stingy Jack to stay in a purgatory on Earth. The Devil gave him a piece of burning coal to serve as a light, which he put in a carved turnip to use as a lantern. Hence, the name “Jack O’Lantern” is born!

Hand drawn orange jack-o-lantern on a black background.

This is an altered image of a traditional Jack O'Lantern that appears to incorporate other Halloween motifs including a cat face/black cat and vampire's teeth.

The American tradition of making “Jack O’Lanterns” during Halloween originated from Ireland. Although, instead of carving pumpkins, the Irish carved turnips or potatoes. The name “Jack O’Lantern” also originated from Ireland in the form of an Irish myth about a man called Stingy Jack. According to the myth, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him. Stingy Jack did not want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn into a coin so that he could buy the drinks. Stingy Jack tricked the Devil many times, always with the security of a cross surrounding him. When Jack died, God would not let him into heaven and the Devil would not let him into Hell. The Devil only gave him a burning coal to serve as light while he traveled the Earth. Stingy Jack put the coal in a carved turnip, and the name “Jack O’Lantern” was born.

Illustration of a green vampire in a purple robe with purple bat wings on a black background with yellow stars, a moon, orange text, and an illustration of a purple vampire bat.  

“I’m hungry for your blood” is a play on the famous quote “I want to suck your blood,” commonly misattributed to the 1931 Dracula film starring Bela Lugosi. The quote actually comes from 1994’s Ed Wood, a film about the science-fiction and horror director by the same name. The movie is largely about Wood and his relationship with actor Bela Lugosi. In one scene, a character who’s impersonating Lugosi's version of Dracula puts on a thick accent and says the iconic line. 

Company founder Russ Berrie started his eponymous business with $500 in a rented garage in Palisades Park, New Jersey. Berrie intended to design, market, and distribute “impulse” gift items. From the start, Russ Berrie & Company produced a string of hit products that quickly found their way onto countertops, desks and dashboards across the country. Among the company’s earliest creations: Fuzzy Wuzzies (tiny fur ball-like critters bearing messages like “You’re My Best Friend” or “Wild Thing”), troll dolls (squat gnomes with plumes of brightly colored hair) and the Bupkis Family (a motley collection of endearingly ugly rubber figurines). The owner believed in the power of “transformational giving,” partnering with energetic, visionary leaders to change the world for the better. He took an entrepreneurial approach to philanthropy, using his keen interpersonal skills to identify people and causes in which to invest and working closely with partners to hone strategies and set expectations.  “There is nothing more important in life than helping a fellow human being.” — Russell Berrie (1933-2002)

Illustration of a witch in a blue dress and shoes with an orange hat with white stars, holding a wand over a green frog on a yellow background with pink bubble text.

“How’s tricks?” is an idiom used to informally greet someone and to ask how they are. Additionally, “tricks” plays into the term “trick or treat”. “Trick or treat” was first documented in print in the Lethbridge Herald on November 4, 1927, in reference to youthful mischief-makers demanding sweet treats post good-natured mayhem making.

White text around an illustration of a witch over an orange circle on a black background.

"Haunted Happenings" is a Halloween and fall celebration held during the month of October in Salem, Massachusetts. The focus of the festival is on the history of the area; in particular, the Salem witch trials. Activities include pumpkin displays, crafting, fireworks, historical reenactments, and tours of the area. Halloween-themed events include costume parties, a Halloween ball, seances, psychic readings, and haunted house and ghost tours.

Orange text over a black background with bats, a lightening bolt and a yellow moon.  

“Happy haunting” is a play on the expression “happy hunting” or “good hunting,” which is typically said to someone who is about to embark on a mission of some sort. An early written record of the phrase “good hunting” appears in a 1937 memoir by a World War II soldier. In one section of the book, a soldier wishes another soldier “good luck and good hunting” before leaving for a mission. This spooky play on the popular military saying is wishing someone luck on their haunting exploits. 

American Greetings Corp. began as a one-man card-jobbing business founded in 1906 by Jacob Sapirstein, a recent immigrant and son of a Polish rabbi. By 1993, it was the world’s largest publicly owned manufacturer and distributor of greeting cards, with $1.6 billion in sales and a net income of $112 million.

Illustration of an orange witch wearing a black robe, cape and hat and riding a broom over houses with an orange sky and yellow moon and black text.

Both Halloween and witches have a long history. Currently, Halloween is celebrated on October 31st every year. However, this holiday originated over 2,000 years ago with the Celtic people. The Celts would celebrate what they called Samhain on October 31st, as they believed the two worlds (the living and the dead) became blurred on this night. In 609 A.D., Christianity evolved the holiday from a pagan Samhain to a Christian All Souls’ Day. In the latter half of 19th century America, Halloween as we know it today became more popularized with the help of Irish immigrants. This new version of the holiday shifted from being about ghosts and witches to being about friends, family, and trick-or-treating in the neighborhood.

The history of witches is complex and, often, dark. Many have heard of the Salem Witch Trials from 1692. During these trials, the accused were “tried” and ultimately killed. But the history of witches dates back to the mid-1400s in Europe, when witches would confess to their “evil crimes” and were also killed. Most witches in Europe were thought to be related to the Devil. However, the classic persona of an old woman with a crooked nose and tall, black hat is a newer addition.

Orange and yellow jack-o-langern with a black sky with purple stars with yellow and orange block text.

Halloween is a celebration held on October 31st each year in many different countries around the world.  The word Halloween or Hallowe’en comes from a Scottish term for All Hallows’ Eve, the evening before All Hallows’ Day or All Saints’ Day.  This Christian celebration honors all saints and is celebrated on November 1st, thus Halloween or All Hallow’s’ Eve is the day before that celebration.  Modern celebrations of Halloween include dressing up in costumes, walking from house to house (known as trick-or-treating), and going to social events/parties.  Another tradition is carving jack-o-lanterns, which are carved faces or designs on pumpkins, turnips, or other root vegetables. Named after the light that flickers over peat bogs, these carved vegetables have a light placed inside them so that they glow at night.

Illustration of a jack-o-lantern with orange text over its mouth on a black background.

The Excalibur Hotel is a medieval themed hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada. At the center of the hotel, there are turret-topped buildings made to look like a castle. Circus Circus Enterprises, a chain which also owns another well-known hotel on the Strip of its title name, opened Excalibur in 1990. In 2005, MGM Resorts International purchased the hotel. Excalibur hosts shows, such as Tournament of Kings, The Thunder Down Under, and a variety of themed parties for holidays including Halloween.