Ancient Roots (History)
What ancient Celtic festival is considered the true origin of Halloween, celebrated around November 1st?
Samhain (pronounced sow-in).
Why did ancient people wear masks and costumes when leaving their homes on Samhain night?
To avoid being recognized or mistaken for real ghosts and spirits.
Count Dracula's famous fictional castle is located in which European country?
Halloween (featuring Michael Myers).
When children go trick-or-treating, what do outdoor lights left on usually signal to them?
That the house is giving out candy (lights off mean no candy).
In Croatian and Slavic mythology, what is a vampir or štriga/štrigon traditionally believed to be?
A restless evil spirit, witch, or reanimated dead person who drinks blood or causes mischief.
In the 8th century, the Christian church renamed November 1st to "All Saints' Day." What was the evening before called?
All Hallows' Eve (which later became Halloween).
What animal is famous for being a witch's flying companion and a symbol of bad luck if it crosses your path?
A black cat.
Which classic 1978 horror movie directed by John Carpenter is named directly after the holiday?
Halloween (featuring Michael Myers)
What two traditional colors are most commonly associated with Halloween?
Orange and black.
In Croatia, November 1st is not Halloween, but a major national public holiday called what?
Dan svih svetih (All Saints' Day), followed by Dušni dan (All Souls' Day) on Nov 2nd.
Before Irish and Scottish immigrants started carving pumpkins in America, what vegetable did they traditionally carve into Jack-o'-lanterns?
Turnips
According to superstition, what happens if you break a mirror?
You get 7 years of bad luck.
In Netflix’s Stranger Things, what is the name of the terrifying monster from the Upside Down that the kids name after a Dungeons & Dragons villain?
Vecna (or the Demogorgon)
What does the acronym R.I.P. written on tombstones stand for?
Rest in Peace.
What famous real-life 15th-century Romanian ruler (Vlad the Impaler) inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula?
Vlad III Dracula (Prince of Wallachia).
What medieval British practice on All Souls' Day involved poor people begging for small pastries called "soul cakes" in exchange for prayers for the dead?
Souling (the historical root of trick-or-treating).
What legendary creature is said to turn into a bat, sleep in a coffin, and burn in direct sunlight?
A vampire (like Count Dracula)
What is the name of Tim Burton's animated movie where the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town stumbles upon Christmas?
The Nightmare Before Christmas (Jack Skellington).
Which North American country is credited with popularizing the modern phrase and custom of "Trick or Treat" in the mid-20th century?
Canada
In some Central and Eastern European traditions, people light candles and leave food on graves in early November. What is the main purpose of this custom?
To remember, honor, and guide the souls of deceased family members and ancestors.
According to Irish folklore, the legend of Jack o'Lantern comes from a man named Jack who tricked the Devil and was forced to wander the earth with what original glowing item?
A carved turnip with a glowing piece of coal inside
During the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, people would dress in costumes or wear animal-skin masks when they went outside after dark. What was the primary historical purpose of wearing these early disguises?
Which 1931 Universal Pictures classic horror film starred Boris Karloff as a famous stitched-together creature with flat hair and neck bolts?
Frankenstein
Candy corn, the iconic tricolor Halloween sweet, was originally invented in the 1880s under what surprising farm-inspired name?
Chicken feed
In Romanian and Slavic folklore, what is the name of a troubled soul or reanimated dead person that rises from the grave to drain the vitality of the living, serving as an ancient blueprint for vampires?
STRIGOI - a troubled spirit or living sorcerer capable of transforming into an animal or returning from the dead as a vampire.