curiosities 1
The tradition of carving jack-o'-lanterns originated from an Irish myth about a man named Stingy Jack. What was the original vegetable used?
a) Potato
b) Turnip (nabo)
c) Pumpkin
d) Beetroot
b) Turnip
The original Irish legend used hollowed-out turnips (or sometimes potatoes) carved with frightening faces. Immigrants in America found that pumpkins, native to the region, were much easier to carve.
In the film Hocus Pocus, what is the name of the talking cat who was once a boy?
A) Binx
B) Jinx
C) Salen
D) Jack
A) Binx
Thackery Binx was the boy who was transformed into an immortal black cat by the Sanderson sisters.
What is a jack-o'-lantern?
A) A type of bat that comes out at night.
B) A carved pumpkin with a light inside.
C) A special spell cast by a witch.
D) A costume that makes you look like a ghost.
B) A carved pumpkin with a light inside.
What is a vampire traditionally repelled by?
a) Silver
b) Running Water
c) Garlic
d) A wooden stake
c) garlic
In the Mexican holiday "Día de los Muertos" (Day of the Dead), which overlaps with Halloween, what is the name of the iconic decorated skulls?
a) Catrinas
b) Ofrendas
c) Calacas
d) Alebrijes
a) Catrinas
The "Calavera Catrina" (Elegant Skull) is a famous zinc etching by José Guadalupe Posada that has become a quintessential symbol of the holiday.
In the 1930s, what undesirable item did "trick-or-treaters" in the U.S. sometimes receive as a "treat" from homeowners?
a) A lump of coal
b) A handful of nails (pregos)
c) A toothbrush
d) A single potato
c) A toothbrush
During the Great Depression, "treats" were often whatever households could afford, and parent-teacher associations sometimes gave out toothbrushes, boxes of crayons, or cookies to discourage vandalism.
In The Nightmare Before Christmas, what is the name of the "Pumpkin King" of Halloween Town?
A) Jack Skellington
B) Oogie Boogie
C) The Mayor
D) Barrel
A) Jack Skellington
He is the charismatic but bored Pumpkin King who discovers Christmas Town.
What do children say to get candy on Halloween?
A) Happy Halloween!
B) Trick or treat!
C) Give me sweets!
D) Boo!
B) Trick or treat!
Which of these creatures is said to be created from the reanimation of a dead body, often through science or magic?
a) Ghost
b) Zombie
c) Skeleton
d) Golem
b) zombie
Which of these candies is consistently the top-selling Halloween candy in the United States?
a) Candy Corn
b) Skittles
c) Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
d) Snickers
c) Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
Year after year, the irresistible combination of chocolate and peanut butter consistently tops the list of America's favorite Halloween candy.
What is the name for the intense and irrational fear of Halloween?
a) Samhainophobia
b) Wiccaphobia
c) Arachnophobia
d) Phasmophobia
a) Samhainophobia
The name comes from "Samhain," the ancient Celtic festival that Halloween evolved from.
In the movie Coraline, what is the main way to distinguish the "Other World" from the real world?
A) The grass is blue instead of green.
B) Everyone has feathers for hair.
C) The food is always moving on the plate.
D) The "Other" characters have buttons for eyes.
D) The "Other" characters have buttons for eyes.
This is the most iconic and creepy feature of the Beldam's created world.
What is a person who transforms into a wolf during a full moon called?
A) A vampire
B) A zombie
C) A werewolf
D) A mummy
C) A werewolf
What classic movie monster is brought to life using electricity?
a) The Mummy
b) The Creature from the Black Lagoon
c) The Frankenstein Monster
d) The Wolf Man
c) the frankstein monster
In Germany, many people put their knives away on Halloween night. What is the reason for this unusual tradition?
a) To prevent accidents
b) To honor the god of peace for the winter season
c) To avoid harming returning spirits
d) It's a protest against violence in modern festivals
c) To avoid harming returning spirits
This tradition stems from the same pagan roots as Halloween, showing respect for the spirits of the dead who are believed to visit the world of the living on this night.
The classic Halloween colors of orange and black are symbolic. What does black typically represent?
a) The coming of winter
b) Death and darkness
c) Witches and black cats
d) The night sky
b) Death and darkness
Orange represents the harvest and the autumn season, while black symbolizes the death of summer and the boundary between the living and the dead.
In ParaNorman, what is the specific reason the witch's curse is activated and the dead rise every year?
A) The town sings a halloween song
B) The witch's ghost seeks revenge.
C) Someone must read from a specific book to the witch's grave to keep her spirit at bay.
D) The old cemetery is built on an ancient burial ground.
C) Someone must read from a specific book to the witch's grave to keep her spirit at bay.
This is the sacred duty that Norman's family has been tasked with for generations.
What do witches traditionally use for flying?
A) A vacuum cleaner
B) A magic carpet
C) A rocket
D) A broomstick
D) A broomstick
What object is a mummy typically wrapped in?
a) Silk
b) Leaves
c) Linen
d) Wool
c) Linen
Mummies, specifically from ancient Egypt, are wrapped in strips of linen cloth.
During the "Día de los Muertos" celebrations in Mexico, families build altars called "ofrendas." What is a common, specific item included to help guide the spirits?
a) A cross made of salt
b) A bowl of water and a towel
c) Marigold petals
d) Bells
c) Marigold petals
The vibrant color and potent scent of marigold petals (called cempasúchil) are believed to create a path for the spirits to follow from the cemetery to their family's ofrenda and back.
Before pumpkin carving became the standard, what were some early Celtic celebrants of Samhain (Halloween's precursor) known to carve?
a) Apples
b) Skulls of animals
c) Crucifix
d) Giant beets
b) Skulls of animals
Some accounts suggest that Celts would hollow out and carve the skulls of animals, such as sheep, and use them as lanterns or decorations during Samhain festivals.
In the movie Monster House, what is the shocking truth about the house at the end of the street?
A) It's built on a cursed burial ground.
B) It's alive because a woman's spirit is trapped inside it.
C) It's a giant, mechanical robot.
D) It's a living organism grown from a magical seed.
B) It's alive because a woman's spirit is trapped inside it.
The house became a living entity when the spirit of the owner's wife, Constance, fused with it after she accidentally fell into the foundation and was encased in concrete.
What is the name of the spooky, abandoned building you might see in a Halloween story, often thought to be inhabited by ghosts?
A) Cottage
B) Haunted house
C) Crypt
D) Dungeon
B) Haunted house
In European folklore, what is a werewolf also known as?
a) A Lycanthrope
b) A Wendigo
c) A Ghoul
d) A Banshee
a) A Lycanthrope
This term comes from Greek mythology ("lykos" for wolf, "anthropos" for human).
The Halloween game "Pin the _____ on the Skeleton" is a spooky twist on the classic children's party game "Pin the Tail on the Donkey." What body part are players typically tasked with pinning?
a) The Skull
b) The Rib
c) The Femur
d) The Heart
b) The Rib.
Players are blindfolded, spun around, and try to correctly pin a paper or cardboard rib onto a skeleton poster. It's a simple and fun anatomical challenge that fits the Halloween theme perfectly.