Halloween
Before Irish and Scottish immigrants began carving pumpkins in North America, they originally carved scary faces into these root vegetables.
What are turnips?
Families leave this simple liquid in a pitcher on the altar so thirsty spirits can refresh themselves after their long journey.
What is water?
This full moon occurs closest to the autumn equinox.
What is the Harvest Moon?
This traditional clay oil lamp is lit by the millions to guide the goddess Lakshmi into homes.
What is a diya?
This massive New York City holiday parade features giant character balloons and is famously hosted by Macy's.
What is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade?
Originally called "chicken feed" when it was created in the 1880s, this tri-colored sugar candy is a staple of the Halloween season.
What is candy corn?
These bright orange or yellow flowers, also called cempasúchil, are used to create fragrant paths to guide returning spirits.
What are marigolds?
This pigment fades as trees stop producing it in the fall, causing leaves to lose their green color.
What is chlorophyll?
In Northern India, Diwali celebrates the triumphant return of Lord Rama, his wife Sita, and his brother Lakshman to this city after 14 years of exile.
What is Ayodhya?
This famous ship brought the Pilgrims to America in 1620.
What is The Mayflower?
This iconic horror composer and director wrote the minimalist piano theme for the 1978 slasher film Halloween in just a few days.
Who is John Carpenter?
Home altars built to welcome back the spirits of loved ones are known by this Spanish name.
What is an ofrenda?
This iconic butterfly species begins a massive multi-thousand-mile migration from the U.S. and Canada to Mexico during the fall.
What is the Monarch butterfly?
In Southern India, Diwali commemorates the defeat of the demon Narakasura by this Hindu deity.
Who is Lord Krishna?
President Abraham Lincoln officially declared Thanksgiving a national holiday during this historical conflict in 1863.
What is the Civil War?
This ancient Celtic festival marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, and is recognized as the precursor to Halloween.
What is Samhain?
This sweet, traditional round bread baked for the holiday is often topped with sugar and bone-shaped dough pieces.
What is pan de muerto?
When Daylight Saving Time ends in November in the United States, clocks are adjusted in this direction.
What is back one hour (gaining an hour)?
Intricate, colorful floor designs made with colored powders, rice, or flower petals to welcome guests and prosperity are known as this.
What is a rangoli?
This classic orange pie is the most popular dessert served at Thanksgiving.
What is pumpkin pie?
Derived from a medieval British practice called "souling," children would go door-to-door collecting these spiced treats in exchange for prayers for the dead.
What are soul cakes?
Artist José Guadalupe Posada created this famous, elegant female skeleton wearing a fancy hat to playfully satirize Mexican society.
Who is La Catrina?
Botanically speaking, these popular fall decorations are actually classified as fruits and belong to the gourd family.
What are pumpkins?
The overarching spiritual theme of Diwali represents the triumph of this abstract concept over darkness, and truth over lies.
What is light (or knowledge/good)?
This Native American tribe celebrated the famous 3-day harvest feast with the Pilgrims.
Who are the Wampanoag?