History & Traditions
Halloween originated from this ancient Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest season.
A. Beltane
B. Samhain
C. Yule
D. Imbolc
Samhain
In the 1978 film Halloween, this masked killer escapes from a psychiatric hospital and returns to Haddonfield.
A. Jason Voorhees
B. Freddy Krueger
C. Michael Myers
D. Norman Bates
C. Michael Myers
According to traditional folklore, a werewolf can be killed with a bullet made from which metal?
A. Gold
B. Copper
C. Iron
D. Silver
D. Silver
Bobby "Boris" Pickett had a Halloween hit in 1962 with this novelty song about a monster dance.
A. Monster Mash
B. Purple People Eater
C. Witch Doctor
D. Thriller
A. Monster Mash
Samhainophobia is specifically the fear of which annual celebration?
A. Halloween
B. Christmas
C. New Year's Eve
D. Friday the 13th
A. Halloween
The tradition of carving jack-o'-lanterns began with this vegetable before pumpkins became popular.
A. Potatoes
B. Beets
C. Turnips
D. Cabbages
turnip
This 1960 Alfred Hitchcock thriller features the infamous shower scene at the Bates Motel.
A. The Birds
B. Psycho
C. Rear Window
D. Vertigo
B. Psycho
In Greek mythology, looking directly at this snake-haired creature could turn a person to stone.
A. Medusa
B. Circe
C. Pandora
D. Hecate
A. Medusa
In the original Addams Family television series, which actor played the eccentric family patriarch Gomez Addams?
A. Fred Gwynne
B. John Astin
C. Jackie Coogan
D. Al Lewis
B. John Astin
A group of crows is traditionally referred to by which ominous collective noun?
A. A haunting
B. A murder
C. A nightmare
D. A conspiracy
B. A Murder
The name Halloween comes from the evening before this Christian holiday celebrated on November 1.
A. All Souls' Day
B. St. Patrick's Day
C. All Saints' Day
D. Epiphany
All Saints' Day (All Hallows' Day)
In the 1931 film Dracula, which Hungarian-born actor portrayed the famous vampire count?
A. Boris Karloff
B. Lon Chaney Jr.
C. Vincent Price
D. Bela Lugosi
D. Bela Lugosi
This legendary creature from Jewish folklore is often formed from clay and brought to life through mystical means.
A. Gargoyle
B. Golem
C. Goblin
D. Griffin
B. Golem
Which 1958 novelty song by Sheb Wooley describes a strange creature with one eye, one horn, and the ability to fly?
A. Witch Doctor
B. The Blob
C. The Purple People Eater
D. Flying Saucer
C. Purple People Eater
Which U.S. state is home to Salem, the site of the infamous 1692 witch trials?
A. Connecticut
B. Virginia
C. Massachusetts
D. Pennsylvania
C. Massachusetts
According to Irish folklore, this wandering trickster inspired the legend of the jack-o'-lantern.
A. Lucky Larry
B. Stingy Jack
C. Wicked William
D. Sneaky Sam
Stingy Jack
In the 1954 film Creature from the Black Lagoon, the monster is discovered in which South American rainforest region?
A. Congo
B. Amazon
C. Patagonia
D. Andes
B. Amazon
This female spirit from Irish folklore is known for her mournful wailing that warns of an approaching death.
A. Harpy
B. Siren
C. Banshee
D. Valkyrie
C. Banshee
Which television anthology series, hosted by Rod Serling from 1959 to 1964, frequently explored eerie twists and supernatural events?
A. Alfred Hitchcock Presents
B. Night Gallery
C. The Outer Limits
D. The Twilight Zone
D. The Twilight Zone
Which real-life Romanian ruler, known for his brutal methods, is often associated with the Dracula legend?
A. Ivan the Terrible
B. Attila the Hun
C. Vlad the Impaler
D. Genghis Khan
C. Vlad the Impaler
In the early 20th century, destructive Halloween pranks helped encourage communities to promote which tradition as an alternative?
A. Costume parades
B. Pumpkin carving contests
C. Trick-or-treating
D. Haunted hayrides
trick-or-treating
This 1922 silent German horror film features Count Orlok and is an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula.
A. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
B. The Phantom of the Opera
C. Nosferatu
D. The Golem
C. Nosferatu
In Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the Headless Horseman is rumored to be the ghost of a soldier from which war?
A. American Civil War
B. War of 1812
C. French and Indian War
D. American Revolutionary War
D. American Revolutionary War
Which actor narrated Michael Jackson's Thriller and delivered its famous sinister laugh?
A. Christopher Lee
B. Vincent Price
C. Boris Karloff
D. Peter Cushing
B. Vincent Price
Which 19th-century author wrote The Tell-Tale Heart, The Black Cat, and The Masque of the Red Death?
A. Edgar Allan Poe
B. H. P. Lovecraft
C. Washington Irving
D. Nathaniel Hawthorne
A. Edgar Allan Poe