Column A
Where does the term "jack o'lantern" come from?
The term "jack o'lantern" originates from an Irish folktale about a cheap man named "Stingy Jack" who made a deal with the devil.
How many pounds of candy corn are produced each year?
35 million pounds of candy corn is made every year—amounting to about 9 billion pieces.
Only one holiday surpasses Halloween in annual consumer sales. What is it?
Christmas actually takes the cake!
Why are black cats associated with Halloween (and bad luck)?
The Puritans associated black cats with witchcraft, leading to the onyx-colored felines' association with Halloween. In many other cultures, black cats are actually signs of good luck and are revered!
Who was the first First Lady to decorate the White House for Halloween?
Mamie Eisenhower in 1958.
What famous magician died on Halloween?
Harry Houdini.
When is Halloween thought to have originated?
4000 B.C.
What was used before pumpkins to make jack o'lanterns?
The Irish, who started the tradition, first used potatoes and turnips for jack o'lanterns before finding that pumpkins were actually much easier to carve. In England, large beets were sometimes used.
Who sang the original "Monster Mash?"
Bobby Pickett.
What was The Munsters' address?
1313 Mockingbird Lane
What was Count Dracula's original name in the Bram Stoker classic?
Count Wampyr.
How many calories are in an average trick-or-treater's Halloween stash?
About 11,000.
How many pieces of candy does the average house give to each trick-or-treater?
2 pieces
In what American state is it illegal to be a priest or nun for Halloween?
Alabama doesn't take clergy costumes lightly: According to Section 13A-14-4, "Whoever, being in a public place, fraudulently pretends by garb or outward array to be a minister of any religion, or nun, priest, rabbi or other member of the clergy, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $500.00 or confinement in the county jail for not more than one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment."
What is the most popular Halloween candy in America?
Skittles.
What do you call a group of witches?
A Coven
How did early New Englanders protect their homes from evil spirits?
By hiding their shoes in the walls
What vegetable was once thought to have supernatural powers on Halloween?
Cabbage
Who wrote the 1818 classic book "Frankenstein?"
Mary Shelley
Which movie tops Rotten Tomatoes' list of the Scariest Horror Movies Ever?
"The Exorcist"
Which U.S. president told a group of schoolkids that the White House was haunted by the ghost of Abraham Lincoln?
In 1989, George H.W. Bush jokingly told a group of children that Lincoln was rumored to haunt the White House
How much money were consumers expected to spend on Halloween decorations in 2022?
$3.4 billion, per the NRF
Which U.S. state produces the most pumpkins?
Illinois, per the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Why are the Halloween colors orange and black?
While there are competing theories, it’s thought that orange is for pumpkins and harvest, and black represents night, death or darkness
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, how many potential trick-or-treaters are there?
Approximately 41 million kids between the ages of 5 and 14 or 73.1 million children under the age of 18
On average, what percentage of Americans carve a pumpkin for Halloween?
45%, according to the NRF
What is having a fear of Halloween called?
Samhainophobia
Why was Halloween nearly canceled as a holiday in the 1930s?
Pranksters and vandals were causing millions of dollars of damage to U.S. cities on Halloween night
Which Halloween candy was originally referred to as “chicken feed"?
Candy corn
What is America's favorite Halloween candy?
Reese's Cups
Which country holds the record for the largest pumpkin ever?
Italy
Which of the following is NOT a term for a scarecrow?
Hodmedod, Murmet, Doodle sack, Hay-man, Gallybagger, Tattie Bogal, Mommet, Mawkin, Bwbach.
Doodle Sack
What were originally used as the first Jack-o'-Lanterns?
Turnips
In "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," who does Linus mistake for the Great Pumpkin?
Snoopy
What year will have the next Halloween with a full moon?
2039
What Halloween radio drama caused a mass panic on October 30, 1938?
"War of the Worlds." Originally a special Halloween episode of The Mercury Theatre on the Air, it was directed and performed by actor Orson Wells who adapted it from H.G. Wells' original novel. Whether or not it actually cause mass hysteria and panic is up for debate because apparently there weren't that many listeners.
What do you sprinkle on your doorstep if you want to keep evil spirts out of your house on Halloween night?
Salt
What house has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s longest haunted house?
The Cutting Edge Haunted House
What item is banned only during Halloween in Hollywood?
Silly string.
What place holds the Guinness World title for the most jack-o’-lanterns lit in one place?
Keene, New Hampshire, United States