History
Which ancient Celtic festival is Halloween thought to have originated from?
a) Beltane
b) Samhain
c) Imbolc
d) Lughnasadh
Samhain is a pagan religious celebration to welcome the harvest at the end of summer when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts.
Samhain may have been Christianized as All Hallow's Day, along with its eve, by the early Church.
What do people typically wear on Halloween to ward off evil spirits?
a) Masks
b) Capes
c) Garlic
d) Silver Jewellery
Ghoulish masks are believed to provide protection from unseen evil.
What is the most popular Halloween costume of 2023?
a) Clown
b) Mermaid
c) Barbie
d) Batman
Barbie is the most searched costume idea in the US this year, according to Google Trends’ Frightgeist, which analyzes the most-searched costume ideas across the country.
The 1984 hit movie ”A Nightmare on Elm Street” introduced the world to which frightening character?
a) Freddy Krueger
b) Norman Bates
c) Michael Myers
Freddy Krueger, a cult slasher best known for his metal-clawed glove, is the main antagonist in “A Nightmare on Elm Street.”
What does the word 'Haloween' stand for?
a)All Hallows’ Eve
b) All Hell to Ye
c) Hello to Ye
Halloween or Hallowe'en is less commonly known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve.
Where did the tradition of dressing up in costumes possibly originate?
a) The USA
b) Ireland and Scotland
c) England
Dressing up in costumes and going "guising" was prevalent in Scotland and Ireland at Halloween by the late 19th century.
A Scottish term, the tradition is called "guising" because of the disguises or costumes worn by the children.
“Lycanthrope” is another word for which mythical monster?
a) Werewolf
b) Mummy
c) Zombie
d) Vampire
Lycanthrope is a fancy word for werewolf. It’s derived from the Greek words for “wolf” and “human.”
Which spell did Professor Flitwick first teach Harry, Ron and Hermione on Halloween in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone?
Wingardium Leviosa
What is the day after Halloween called?
a) Day of the Dead
b) All Saints Day
c) All Dead Day
All Saints Day is a Christian solemnity celebrated on November 1 in honor of all the saints of the Church, whether they are known or unknown.
Before pumpkins, which items were used to carve jack-o’-lanterns?
a) Apples
b) Carrots
c) Turnips
d) Cantaloupes
People in Ireland and Scotland originally used turnips as lanterns on Halloween.
What do you call a group of witches?
a) Caravan
b) Coven
c) Cauldron
d) Colony
A group of witches is called a coven.
Which science fiction horror series from Netflix is set in the fictional town of Hawkins?
Stranger Things
In what country did Halloween become especially popular in the 20th century?
When large numbers of immigrants, including the Irish, went to the United States beginning in the mid 19th century, they took their Halloween customs with them, and in the 20th century Halloween became one of the principal U.S. holidays, particularly among children.
Victorians used to put what inside their coffins, just in case?
a) Garlic
b) Knife
c) Bells
d) Money
Bells - if they happened to be buried alive.
In what American state is it illegal to be a priest or nun for Halloween?
a) California
b) Washington
c) Texas
d) Alabama
Alabama doesn't take clergy costumes lightly: According to the lasw, if you dress up as a memver of clergy, you "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."
Who wrote Frankenstein in 1818?
Mary Shelley
In Mexican culture, what holiday, traditionally celebrated on November 1 and 2, is similar in spirit to Halloween?
The Day of the Dead (Spanish: el Día de Muertos or el Día de los Muertos) is a holiday traditionally celebrated on November 1 and 2.
The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pay respects and to remember friends and family members who have died. These celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember funny events and anecdotes about the departed.
What vegetable is part of a tradition on the night before Halloween?
a) Cabbage
b) Cucumber
c) Tomato
d) Carrot
Cabbage is often used in pranks on Mischief Night, sometimes called Cabbage Night. People would sometimes leave stinky, rotten cabbage near neighbors' doors.
Which famous magician died on Halloween?
a) Houdini
b) Copperfield
c) Blaine
d) Angel
Harry Houdini was a magician who defied the odds and wowed crowds with his escape acts. He died from peritonitis on October 31, aged 52.
What is the most commercially successful horror movie of all time?
a) It
c) The Silence of Lambs
It is a 2017 American supernatural horror film directed by Andy Muschietti and written by Chase Palmer, Cary Fukunaga, and Gary Dauberman. It is the first of a two-part adaptation of the 1986 novel of the same name by Stephen King. it became the highest-grossing horror film of all time. It received generally positive reviews, with critics praising the performances, direction, cinematography and musical score, and many calling it one of the best Stephen King adaptations.