History & Traditions
What does the word "Halloween" mean?
It’s short for “All Hallows’ Eve,” the night before All Saints’ Day.
What color cat is associated with bad luck on Halloween?
Black cats (though in real life, they’re just as sweet as any other cat!)
In the movie “Hotel Transylvania,” what kind of monster is the main character?
A vampire. (Count Dracula)
True or False: Chocolate bars were too expensive to give out as Halloween treats until the 1960s.
True! Before then, homemade treats and small toys were more common.
True or False: Black and orange are Halloween colors because orange represents harvest and black represents death.
True. The colors have symbolic meanings from the holiday’s ancient origins.
What country did Halloween originate in?
Ireland. It started as an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain over 2,000 years ago.
What metal is fatal to werewolves?
Silver.
What Halloween movie features three witch sisters named Winifred, Sarah, and Mary?
Hocus Pocus.
What’s the most popular Halloween candy in America?
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
What percentage of kids go trick-or-treating each year?
About 65% of children in the U.S. go trick-or-treating!
True or False: Halloween is the second-highest grossing holiday after Christmas.
True. Americans spend billions on costumes, candy, and decorations every year.
What is a group of witches called?
A coven.
In “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” what’s the name of the Pumpkin King?
Jack Skellington.
What vegetable was once commonly used for jack-o’-lanterns in England?
Turnips (and potatoes too!)
What’s the fear of Halloween called?
Samhainophobia
What were the first-ever fun-sized candy bars? (Two answers)
Snickers and Milky Way, introduced in 1930
True or False: Frankenstein is the name of the green monster from Mary Shelley's novel.
False. Frankenstein is the name of the scientist who created the monster.
What friendly ghost has appeared in cartoons since 1945?
Casper the Friendly Ghost.
What candy was originally called “Chicken Feed”?
Candy corn! It was created in the 1880s.
How much did the world’s largest pumpkin weigh?
Over 2,600 pounds. That’s heavier than a small car!
Why do we carve pumpkins for Halloween?
The tradition comes from Ireland, where people carved scary faces into turnips to ward off evil spirits. When Irish immigrants came to America, they discovered pumpkins were much easier to carve!
How many bones are in an adult human skeleton?
206 bones.
In the movie “Coraline,” what is the Other Mother’s true form?
A spider-like creature, known as the Beldam.
Which colorful candy pieces were originally marketed as “chocolate buttons” in the 1940s?
M&Ms.
What U.S. city hosts the world’s largest Halloween parade?
New York City. The Greenwich Village Halloween Parade attracts over 50,000 participants!