Origins and History
Which seasonal transition did Samhain mark?
The end of harvest / beginning of the darker half of the year
Which root vegetable was traditionally carved in Ireland?
Turnips
In what year did Bram Stoker publish Dracula?
1897
What is the Irish fruitcake associated with Halloween called?
Barmbrack
What is the body's response to perceived danger called?
The fight-or-flight response
What was believed to become 'thin' around Samhain?
The boundary between human and supernatural worlds
Who is the trickster in the lantern legend?
Stingy Jack
In which part of Europe did many early vampire traditions circulate?
Eastern Europe
What did a ring in the cake symbolise?
Marriage
Name one physiological change mentioned in the passage.
Sharper attention / higher heart rate / adrenaline release
On what date is All Saints' Day observed in Western Christianity?
1 November
Why did pumpkins become the preferred carving material?
They were larger and more convenient / widely available in North America
Which fear is explored symbolically by werewolf tales?
Losing human self-control
What is the Spanish term for a commemorative altar for the dead?
Ofrenda
Why can staged fear feel enjoyable?
People recognise the situation as relatively safe
People recognise the situation as relatively safe
Which nineteenth-century movement helped spread Halloween customs in North America?
Migration from Ireland
In 'souling', what did visitors offer in exchange for food?
Prayers for the dead
Which group formed the majority of people executed after witchcraft accusations?
Women
Which flowers are widely used for Día de los Muertos decorations?
Marigolds
What older practice is linked to apple bobbing?
Seasonal games / fortune-telling
Why is it misleading to call every modern Halloween custom an unchanged Celtic survival?
Customs were borrowed, transformed and reinvented over centuries
What did disguised visitors traditionally do in 'guising'?
Perform songs or recitations for rewards
What term describes enjoying fear in a relatively safe setting?
Recreational fear
What distinction separates Día de los Muertos from Halloween?
It is a separate tradition focused on remembrance of deceased loved ones
What contrasting meanings do orange and black carry?
Orange: harvest/pumpkins; black: darkness/mystery