Movies!
Which movie does the line “Do you like scary movies?” come from?
In the 1996 film Scream, the phone voice (played by Roger Jackson) asked the question to Sidney Prescott.
What was the ancient Celtic fall festival that was a precursor to Halloween?
Samhain. Marking the change of seasons, Samhain occurred on November 1 but kicked off the evening before. On this night, the veil between this world and the next was thought to be especially thin.
What is America's favorite Halloween candy?
Reese’s come out on top according to a 2023 poll with 29 percent of Americans choosing it as their favorite. Snickers came in second followed by a three-way tie for third between candy corn, Kit Kats, and M&Ms.
What were originally used as the first Jack-o'-Lanterns?
Turnips. Originating in Ireland, people would hollow out turnips and place a lump of coal in it as a type of lantern and set it at their door as a guide for poor "Jack."
Which famous magician actually died on Halloween?
Harry Houdini passed away on Halloween day.
Who directed Beetlejuice (1988)?
Tim Burton
What was the original purpose of bobbing for apples on Halloween?
Fortune-telling, specifically predicting whom a woman would marry. Each apple represented a different suitor, and whichever apple the woman ended up biting into was said to represent her future husband.
What was the original name for candy corn?
Chicken Feed
What is the name of a group of witches?
A coven is group in which witches gather.
What is the only mammal that can fly?
Bats! There are more than 1,400 species of them worldwide, and one of them is the world's smallest mammal.
Which actress made her film debut in Halloween (1978)?
Jamie Lee Curtis
Why do we associate orange and black with Halloween?
Original Halloween decor drew from the natural colors in season in October that were largely orange and yellow (pumpkins! hay bales! marigolds!), and it also drew in black as a dark color to represent an eerie, spooky vibe. Over the years, use of these colors became more commercialized.
Can you guess how many calories are in the average trick-or-treat Halloween bag?
3,500 and 7,000!
What do you sprinkle on your doorstep if you want to keep evil spirts out of your house on Halloween night?
Salt.
How did early New Englanders protect their homes from evil spirits?
By hiding their shoes in the walls
There are two serial killers at the center of Silence of the Lambs. What are their names?
Buffalo Bill and Hannibal Lecter
In what century did the tradition of trick-or-treating begin?
The American tradition of trick-or-treating dates back to the 1920s.
How many children have been harmed or injured by poisoned or manipulated candy given to them by strangers on Halloween?
Zero. Apparently most cases of strangers inserting objects inside candy have been very few and have never lead to any serious cases of injury. Most cases of candy tampering have actually been done by family members and blamed on strangers.
Why do some people wear their clothes inside out on Halloween?
According to an old folk tradition, if you wear your clothes inside out and walk backwards on Halloween, you will see a witch at midnight.
Who brought the Halloween tradition to the United States?
The Irish, during the potato famine in the mid-1800s
In Halloween, Michael Myers’s mask is actually a mask of which actor?
William Shatner
What is the night before Halloween known as?
In some areas the night before Halloween is known at Mischief Night or Devil’s Night, and to others it’s known as Gate Night, Trick Night, or Goosy Night.
What state produces more candy than any others?
California is home to more candy producers than any other U.S. state.
Why did women look in mirrors while walking downstairs at midnight on Halloween?
To see their boyfriends.
What monster is associated with the full moon, but is not affected by silver?
A skinwalker