Celtic Festival of Samhain
When was the festival of Samhain celebrated?
a) October 31st
b) November 1st
c) November 2nd
d) Every full moon
d) Every full moon
When is All Saints' Day celebrated?
a) October 31st
b) November 1st
c) November 2nd
d) December 25th
b) November 1st
What was special about medieval Halloween
a) Singing and dancing
b) Souling and guising
c) Story-telling and eating
d) Screaming and sleeping
b) Souling and guising
What group revived the old Halloween traditions in America?
a) British soldiers
b) Immigrants from Ireland and Scotland
c) Native Americans
d) Pirates from the Caribbean
b) Immigrants from Ireland and Scotland
How did Halloween in America change by the end of the 20th century?
a) It became more focused on family and children
b) It turned into a dangerous celebration
c) It was banned in some states
d) It became a harvest festival
a) It became more focused on family and children
Why did people leave food and wine on their doorsteps?
a) To feed their neighbors
b) To celebrate good harvests
c) To appease roaming spirits
d) Because it was a local tradition
c) To appease roaming spirits
What does “All Hallows' Eve” mean?
a) The evening of all spirits
b) The night of full moon
c) The evening before All Saints' Day
d) The day after Halloween
c) The evening before All Saints' Day
When did people go "souling"?
a) On Halloween night
b) November 2nd
c) November 1st
d) Every Sunday
b) November 2nd
What was Halloween mostly about in 19th century America?
a) Candy collecting
b) Telling spooky stories
c) Pranks and mischief
d) Watching horror movies
c) Pranks and mischief
How much do Americans spend on costumes each year?
a) $2 million
b) Over $2.5 billion
c) Around $500,000
d) Less than $1 billion
b) Over $2.5 billion
What did people wear to avoid being recognized by ghosts?
a) Costumes of animals
b) Ordinary clothes
c) Masks to appear as ghosts
d) Hats made of leaves
c) Masks to appear as ghosts
Why did people shorten "All Hallows' Eve" to "Halloween"?
a) To make it sound scarier
b) It was easier to say
c) Because it was a new holiday
d) They liked shorter names
b) It was easier to say
What were young people expected to do during "guising"?
a) Dress as ghosts
b) Scare others in the street
c) Perform in exchange for food, wine, or money
d) Play musical instruments
c) Perform in exchange for food, wine, or money
When did Halloween start becoming family-friendly?
a) In the 1950s
b) In the 1920s
c) After World War II
d) During the Great Depression
a) In the 1950s
How much is spent annually on Halloween in the U.S.?
a) $1 billion
b) $3 billion
c) Up to $6 billion
d) $100 million
c) Up to $6 billion
Samhain is an ancient festival from which culture?
a) Roman
b) Celtic
c) Egyptian
d) Greek
b) Celtic
What does "All Hallows' Eve" refer to?
a) The day after All Saints' Day
b) The night before All Saints' Day
c) The evening of Halloween parties
d) The first day of November
b) The night before All Saints' Day
What was the main difference between "guising" and trick-or-treating?
a) No candy was given
b) Guising involved performing
c) Guising was only for adults
d) Guising was more dangerous
b) Guising involved performing
What was the original focus of trick-or-treating?
a) Free food for children
b) Playing practical jokes
c) Sharing family recipes
d) Wearing the scariest costume
b) Playing practical jokes
What is Halloween’s rank in the U.S. commercial holidays?
a) First
b) Second
c) Third
d) Fourth
b) Second
Why did people wear masks during the Samhain festival?
a) To blend in with ghosts
b) To scare away spirits
c) To show respect for the dead
d) For fun at parties
a) To blend in with ghosts
How did the Christian Church change the celebration of Samhain?
a) They banned it completely
b) They replaced it with All Saints' Day
c) They turned it into Christmas
d) They made it part of Easter
b) They replaced it with All Saints' Day
What was the tradition of "souling"?
a) Begging for food in exchange for prayers
b) Singing songs to ghosts
c) Asking for candy door to door
d) Dressing up as saints
a) Begging for food in exchange for prayers
What role did Irish and Scottish immigrants play in Halloween traditions in America?
a) They banned Halloween celebrations
b) They revived old traditions like trick-or-treating
c) They introduced Halloween costumes
d) They replaced Halloween with a harvest festival
b) They revived old traditions like trick-or-treating
4. What do people mainly spend money on for Halloween?
a) Party supplies
b) Candy and costumes
c) Fireworks
d) Haunted house tickets *(Correct answer: b)*
Why is Halloween considered a big commercial holiday in the U.S.?
a) It is the biggest celebration of the year
b) People spend large amounts of money on costumes and candy
c) It is a religious holiday
d) It lasts for an entire week
b) People spend large amounts of money on costumes and candy