Snope Debunker - White House ghost stories, the story behind Halloween costumes, and preserving carved pumpkins

​ HALLOWEEN EDITION Snopes Debunker Oct. 31, 2022 Trouble Reading? View in Your Browser Today: White House ghost stories, the story behind Halloween costumes, and preserving carved pumpkins ​ The Haunted White House: Ghosts of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Some people firmly believe that the White House, the primary residence of the president of the United States, is haunted by ghosts. Among the spectral figures allegedly spotted wandering the rooms and corridors of the Executive Mansion are past presidents, first ladies, their children, and various other ghastly, long-dead personages. If it comes as a shock that the White House has a long history of reported hauntings, remind yourself where most haunted house stories take place: in stately old mansions fairly dripping with history and family tragedy. What better setting for a good, old-fashioned haunting than the White House? David Emery has the (ghost) story. Read Now Fact Checks and Original Reporting 'Rainbow Fentanyl Candy' Scare Erupts Just in Time for Halloween So far, it appears to be a 2022 twist on an old type of scarelore. Read Story. Why Do We Wear Costumes on Halloween? The history behind why you endure “sexy Freddy Krueger” outfits each October. Read Story. Is Vinegar Safer Than Bleach for Preserving Carved Pumpkins? A common piece of Halloween lore pertains to fears over carved pumpkins killing wildlife. Read Story. Latest Fact Checks More on Snopes.com Did Thomas Edison Say, 'Our Greatest Weakness Lies in Giving Up'? There's no shortage of fake quotes on the internet. However, this one is real. Read More Did Anne Frank Write, 'Always Give Something, Even if It Is Only Kindness'? There are way too many fake Anne Frank quotes that are shared online, but this one about giving kindness genuinely came from her writing. Read More Did 'Nylon' Get Its Name By Conflating the Words 'New York' and 'London'? Nylon stockings hit the market in 1939, after being introduced at the New York World's Fair. Read More

View Latest News Staff Pick You Owe Yourself a Treat This Halloween — a Faster Snopes Website Just in time for Halloween, we're preparing to launch new technology that will give our website speed and a leaner, streamlined look. No tricks, all treats here. Read Story. View Editors' Picks Keep Snopes Debunking Show your support for Team Snopes by making a one-time contribution today. Contribute Now