Wikipedia:Did you know/Halloween 2008

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... that in classical mythology, Cerberus (pictured) is a monstrous dog with multiple heads that guards the gates to the underworld?
... that the Convention on the Continental Shelf codified international law relating to continental shelves during the first United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea?
... that The Witchery of Archery, written by Maurice Thompson in 1878, was the first book about hunting with a bow ever published?
... that David J. Skal and Elias Savada wrote the first book-length biography of Tod Browning, who directed the films Dracula and Freaks?
... that the Marinens Flyvebaatfabrikk M.F.10 seaplane was a military trainer of the Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service, and served from 1929 until the 1940 German invasion of Norway?
... that the Dictum of Kenilworth agreed on Halloween 1266 created a reconciliation between the Barons and Henry III of England?
... that the Northern River Street Historic District is a well-preserved transitional neighborhood between the industrial and commercial areas of Troy, New York?
... that the Norwegian film Cold Prey 2 was the sequel to what was called "the best slasher flick" of 2006?

... that the permanent collection on display at Ye Olde Curiosity Shop in Seattle, Washington includes "Sylvester" (pictured), an excellently preserved mummy?
... that the wife of sawmill owner Julius Nicolai Jacobsen was said to haunt their house in Fredrikstad, Norway after she died?
... that some types of vampire moth can bite and drink human blood?
... that Utu Abe Malae and the American Samoa Power Authority received an award from the Mayor of Honolulu for their policies promoting sustainable development?
... that millions of children participate in Halloween-related fundraising events for Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, a program that has raised over US$188 million worldwide?
... that using the memory of his late sister as motivation, Tyler Sloan made his National Hockey League debut on October 21 after seven years in the minor leagues?
... that Harold Owen claimed the ghost of his brother, the poet Wilfred Owen, appeared to him on board HMS Astraea a week after Wilfred's death?
... that candy pumpkins were placed on the seat of every U.S. Senator by the candy industry in 1985 in hopes of extending U.S. daylight saving time to cover Halloween?

... that in Mesoamerican folklore, it is believed that a dog (mythical dog pictured) carries the newly deceased across a body of water into the afterlife?
... that Abandon's music was first discovered when a record label manager was dining and got distracted by hearing them play a concert next door?
... that phasmophobia is a fear of ghosts?
... that Holton Windmill did not have a fantail when it was a working mill?
... that Halloween in the Castro, San Francisco's gay village, started as a children's costume contest in 1948 and was attended by 500,000 people in 2002?
... that Lars Andreas Oftedahl, member of the Norwegian Constituent Assembly in 1814, was also a renowned speaker?
... that the Mother Shipton Moth is named after the likeness of the legendary witch Ursula Southeil on its wings?
... that the high school quiz competition Brain Game has aired on local television in Indianapolis since 1972?
... that in The Fairy's Dilemma, Victorian dramatist W. S. Gilbert parodied the harlequinade, a genre that had fascinated him since childhood?

... that the DR 6 nebula (pictured) was nicknamed "The Galactic Ghoul" by scientists at NASA because of its resemblance to a human face?
... that the future King George V was among 13 people aboard HMS Bacchante who saw the infamous ghost ship Flying Dutchman off South Africa in 1881?
... that the theme of poison dress can be found in Greek mythology, Mughal Indian folklore, and American urban legends?
... that educational music has been shown in research to promote learning?
... that the Halloween Pennant is a North American species of dragonfly?
... that when Cornelius Holmboe was appointed Norwegian Minister of Justice in 1928, the cabinet lasted only for 18 days?
... that Hawgsmoke is a biennial United States Air Force bombing, missile, and tactical gunnery competition for A-10 Thunderbolt II units?
... that the Windsor Pumpkin Regatta is a race featuring large hollowed-out pumpkins in which contestants paddle a half mile course across a lake?
... that among the ghost sightings involving the American Civil War are a ghost reenacting one of his defeats in a battle that took place 415 miles (668 km) away?

... that Wycoller Hall (pictured) is supposedly haunted by the ghost of a murdered wife, who foretold the hall's ruin?
... that in the aftermath of the Second Partition of Poland in 1793, the Kościuszko Uprising occurred in 1794?
... that a tour guide at Fond du Lac's Octagon House claims that visitors hear the ghosts of an earlier owner's small children laughing and playing?
... that lawyer Hal Kant spent 35 years as principal lawyer and general counsel for the Grateful Dead, exercising so much influence with the band that his business cards identified his role as "Czar"?
... that sightings of a ghostly figure in the Culbertson Mansion is one of Indiana's many ghost legends?
... that Western Local Escort Force was organized by the Royal Canadian Navy in February 1942 as a response to German U-boat raids known as the Second Happy Time?
... that when New Paltz's Elting Memorial Library caught a possible ghost on its security camera, the YouTube video received more views than the village has residents?