Ancient Origins
From which countries do Halloween traditions originally come?
Ireland, Scotland, and England
Which vegetables did the Celts originally carve faces into?
Turnips and potatoes
Why did Celts wear masks on Samhain night?
So that ghosts would think they were ghosts too
From which country did the “trick or treat” tradition come?
England
What was the name of the ancient Celtic festival that Halloween comes from?
Samhain
What was the carved lantern with a face called?
A jack-o’-lantern
Which group in early America didn’t originally celebrate Halloween?
Native Americans
What were “soul cakes”?
Small cakes made with spices and raisins
What did Samhain represent for the Celts?
The end of summer and harvest (life) and the beginning of winter (death)
Why did Jack have to walk the earth forever, according to the legend?
Because he tricked the devil
When did Halloween in the U.S. start to become less religious and more about fun?
In the late 19th century
What tradition replaced leaving food outside for ghosts?
Giving soul cakes to poor people
What did people wear to protect themselves from ghosts?
Clothes made of animal skins
What did Irish immigrants in the U.S. find easier to carve than turnips?
Pumpkins
What kinds of costumes do Americans wear today, apart from scary ones?
All kinds of costumes
What fraction of the year’s sweets in the U.S. are sold for Halloween?
One quarter (25%)
In what year did the Catholic Church establish All Saints’ Day on November 1st?
AD 609
In which century did Irish immigrants bring this tradition to the United States?
In the 19th century (1800s)
What type of event replaced the old religious celebrations?
Neighborhood and family parties to celebrate the season
What festival does Mexico celebrate from October 31st to November 2nd?
The Day of the Dead