HISTORY
Halloween has its origins in which ancient Celtic festival?
SAMHAIN
Which Catholic Church holiday is Halloween linked to?
ALL SAINTS (HALLOWS) DAY
In which country did Halloween originate?
IRELAND
What is the significance of seeing a spider on Halloween?
It is thought to be the spirit of a loved one watching over the person who finds the spider.
According to superstition, a person born on Halloween has what particular ability?
The ability to see and talk to spirits
Halloween was first celebrated by which ancient priests?
DRUIDS
Many people in Mexico celebrate Halloween by eating what ghoulish candy treat?
SUGAR SKULLS
Which country celebrates the Day of the Dead starting at midnight on Oct. 31?
MEXICO
This animal is associated with Halloween because, in Medieval Europe, they were thought to be witches. To hear its call meant someone was about to die.
Owls
If you stare into a mirror at midnight on Halloween, what will you see?
Our future husband or wife
How did Halloween come to America?
Halloween was brought to North America by immigrants from Europe, who celebrated the harvest around a bonfire, shared ghost stories, sang, danced, and told fortunes.
What do Halloween colors, black and orange, signify?
Orange stands for harvest and black stands for death
What do people in New England call the night before Halloween?
CABBAGE NIGHT
These animals were once evil omens thought to be spirits of witches, or a witch’s familiar who protected their powers.
Black cats
If a person wears their clothes inside out and then walks backwards on Halloween, what happens?
They will see a witch at midnight.
Before pumpkins, people used THAT to carve the Jack o’ lanterns out of
turnips
What word begins with letter C, looks like a pot and is normally used by witches to brew their potions and cast evil spells?
CAULDRON
The celtic wore costumes. Why did they do that?
To scare the spirits away
In countries such as Poland, Bulgaria and the United States archaeologists have found bodies of the deceased pinned to the earth with wooden stakes or iron bars. Who do you think these bodies were thought to be?
Vampires
What happens while standing at a crossroads on Halloween night
It will attract spirits traveling the earth to you. Halloween superstition says the spirits will whisper about your future. Crossroads are a dangerous place where a man can sell his soul to the devil.
What were the series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts in the spring of 1692 called?
Salem Witch Trials
What’s another name for a carved pumpkin?
A Jack-o-lantern
According to Irish legend, Jack O’ Lanterns are named after a stingy man named Jack who, because he tricked the devil several times, was forbidden entrance into both heaven and hell. Therefore, he was condemned to wander the Earth, waving his lantern to lead people away from their paths.
In Latin America, Spain and Mexico, a wash basin and towel are left out
So that the spirit can wash before indulging in the feast. Many families construct an altar to honor deceased relatives and decorate it with candy, flowers, photographs, samples of the deceased’s favorite foods and drinks, and fresh water.
Who is a headless woman dressed in white who chases night wanderers and was accompanied by a black pig.
Lady Gwyn
Why did Celts prepare offerings and left them outside villages and fields for fairies, or Sidhs.
The Celts believed that the barrier between worlds was breachable during Samhain, that ancestors might cross over during this time as well, and Celts would dress as animals and monsters so that fairies were not tempted to kidnap them.