Origins & History
What is the original name of Halloween?
All Hallows’ Eve
What two colours are most associated with Halloween?
Orange and black
What do vampires traditionally fear?
Garlic, sunlight, crosses, holy water
What phrase do children say when they go from house to house?
Trick or treat!
What do ghosts typically say?
Boo! 👻
Which ancient Celtic festival is Halloween believed to come from?
Samhain
What do the colours orange and black symbolize?
Orange – harvest/autumn, black – death/darkness
What is a werewolf and when does it usually transform?
A person who turns into a wolf during a full moon
What does the phrase “trick or treat” actually mean?
Give me a treat or I will play a trick on you
What do people traditionally put inside a jack-o’-lantern?
A candle 🕯️ / light 💡
“All Hallows’ Eve” mean?
The evening before All Saints’ Day
Which insect and which animal are classic Halloween symbols (besides the pumpkin)?
Spider and black cat 🕷️🐈⬛
What is a mummy and where does this character come from?
A preserved dead body from Ancient Egypt
In which country did modern trick-or-treating become especially popular?
The United States 🇺🇸
What is a jack-o’-lantern made from?
A Pumpkin 🎃
What was the original purpose of “souling”?
Poor people asked for food (soul cakes) in exchange for prayers for the dead
Why is the black cat considered unlucky in Halloween folklore?
People believed black cats were connected with witches and the devil
What do zombies traditionally crave and where did the modern myth come from?
Brains / human flesh; Haitian folklore and movies
Why did people originally wear costumes on Halloween?
To disguise themselves from evil spirits
What was the legend of Stingy Jack about?
A man who tricked the devil and was forced to wander with a carved turnip/pumpkin
How is All Saints’ Day connected to Halloween?
Halloween is the evening before All Saints’ Day (November 1st)
Why did people start carving jack-o’-lanterns?
To scare away evil spirits / because of the legend of Stingy Jack
What is the difference between a ghost and a spirit in most stories?
A ghost is the soul of a dead person; a spirit can be any supernatural being
What is the name of the famous pumpkin-headed character from Washington Irving’s story?
The Headless Horseman
What is the connection between Halloween and the dead in old traditions?
People believed the barrier between the living and the dead was thinnest on this night