Diseases
A medieval disease spread by fleas on rats devastated Europe in the 1300s
What is the bubonic plague
The color orange represents harvest and autumn, what color is associated with Halloween for symbolizing death in darkness.
What is black
The sinking of this “unsinkable” British ship in 1912 led to over 1,500 deaths.
What is the Titanic?
These famous trials took place in 1692 in Massachusetts, leading to 19 executions for witchcraft.
What are the Salem Witch Trials?
A once deadly virus caused high fevers and pustule-covered skin before being eradicated worldwide in the 1980s
What is Smallpox
Halloween became widely celebrated in the United States during the 1800s after immigrants from what country bought their traditions with them?
What is Ireland
This French queen was executed by guillotine during the French Revolution in 1793.
Who is Marie Antoinette?
Instead of confessing, this 71-year-old man was pressed to death under heavy stones for refusing to enter a plea.
Who is Giles Corey?
Known as “consumption” in the 1800s, this lung disease slowly wasted away its victims, and spread through the air.
What is Tuberculosis
Early Halloween costumes weren’t meant to be fun, for what reason did people wear them on the night when spirits were believed to roam the Earth?
What is to hide from/blend in with the spirits
This Russian mystic, known for his influence over the Romanov family, was famously hard to kill—poisoned, shot, and finally drowned in 1916.
Who is Grigori Rasputin?
The Salem Witch Trials took place under this strict religious movement that emphasized sin, punishment, and fear of the Devil.
What is Puritanism?
An ancient disease now called Hansen’s disease, caused nerve damage and skin lesions, leading to the isolation of its victims
What is Leprosy?
The first Jack o’ Lanterns weren’t made from pumpkins, what vegetable was originally carved?
What are turnips?
After being exiled to the island of St. Helena following his defeat at Waterloo, this French emperor died in 1821—possibly from stomach cancer, though there are rumors of arsenic poisoning.
Who is Napoleon Bonaparte?
This woman was the first person officially executed for witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials.
Who is Bridget Bishop?
Caused by a potato bite fungus, this 19th century disaster lead to over 1 million deaths in mass Emigration from Ireland.
What is the Irish potato famine?
A medieval tradition where poor people went door-to-door offering prayers for the dead in exchange for food which inspired modern trick-or-treating
What is souling
This ancient philosopher was sentenced to death by drinking poison hemlock for “corrupting the youth of Athens.”
Who is Socrates?
After the hysteria ended, the names of the accused were officially cleared, and their families were offered compensation in this year
What is 1711?