'He did the Mash! He did the Monster Mash!'
I can be found in almost every culture, all year round, yet my description varies widely.
I am used by adults to frighten children from misbehaving, because I'll come and get them.
Who am I?
The Boogeyman
In the classic 'Peanuts' Halloween special, Linus and Sally spend Halloween in a pumpkin patch eagerly awaiting whose arrival?
The Great Pumpkin
This film featured it's villain getting sucked out into space, and then fried by the spaceship's thrusters.
This scene was referenced by Spiderman and Ironman in 'Avengers : Infinity War'.
'Alien'
“They're creepy and they're kooky
Mysterious and spooky
They're all together ooky...”
'The Addams Family' theme
According to myth, this method of keeping a coffin-less corpse from rising to the surface, was also effective for keeping vampires from rising from their graves.
A stake through the heart
In Japanese folklore, Shinigami are benevolent beings that help maintain the Cycle of Life. Very different from this Western counterpart that inspired their creation.
The Grim Reaper
"I am the Pumpkin King!"
Bored with Halloween, I find doors to other realms and discover Christmas. Amazed, I then have Santa kidnapped and try to take it over.
Who am I?
Jack Skellington
This film, based off a Japanese film of the same name, featured a video tape, that when watched, seemed to cause the viewer's death 7 days later.
'The Ring'
“If there's something strange in your neighborhood
Who you gonna call? “
'Ghostbusters' theme
When this Halloween Tradition began, a female walked up darkened stairs backwards while holding a candle and a mirror to see their future husband or if they'd die before marriage.
Today, this ritual involves standing before a candlelit mirror, while repeating this name 13 times.
Bloody Mary
This monstrous creature was inspired by the Irish legend of a fae-like creature called a Dullahan.
It is said to have given chase to Ichabod Crane, a resident of a town sometimes referred to as “Sleepy Hallow”.
The Headless Horseman
I have haunted the pages of comics, television screens, and even the big screen, but never in a bad way! That's more along the lines of something my 3 uncles would do.
One thing I ask is for you to 'Remember Me This Way'.
Casper, the Friendly Ghost
What was the name of the murderer whose soul gets transferred into a doll's body through the use of a voodoo ritual in 'Child's Play'?
Charles Lee “Chucky” Ray
“Under the moonlight you see a sight that almost stops your heart.
You try to scream but terror takes the sound before you make it”
'Thriller' - Michael Jackson
According to Popular Culture this “cursed” item has origins in either Africa or the Caribbean.
However, in reality it was actually created in Britain to BREAK a witch's enchantment.
Voodoo Doll
The Chinese equivalent of this energy stealing creature is called Jiangshi ((Pronounced Chong Shee))
Vampire
This popular Children's TV Show featured a group of youth who called themselves 'The Midnight Society', which gathered in the woods around a campfire, and told spooky tales.
They ended the night with putting out the fire using a bucket of water, then leaving the campsite.
'Are You Afraid of the Dark?'
This 1978 zombie flick which primarily was set inside of a mall, was filmed at Monroeville Mall in Monroeville, PA.
'Dawn of the Dead'
“Hush little baby don't say a word.
And never mind that noise you heard.
It's just the beast under your bed.
In your closet, in your head!”
'Enter Sandman' - Metallica
According to Irish myth, a man played tricks on the Devil so that he wouldn't take his soul to Hell.
When he died, he wasn't allowed in Heaven, due to his trickery, and his soul was left to wander the Earth, which gave birth to this Halloween Tradition.
Jack 'o Lantern
This large, tentacled, yet winged, “Old One” is a monstrous, un-killable creature said to lay dreaming in R'lyeh, and if awakened, can only be slain by another immortal.
Surprisingly, Eric Cartman's make-believe superhero persona, was able to befriend him during an arc of the show 'South Park'.
Cthulhu
This '70s horror spoof featured a sentient food item on the attack, and likened itself to Hitchcock's 'The Birds'.
At one point in the film, a victim was thought to be covered in blood, but it wound up just being juice!
It also became a goofy children's cartoon in the '90s.
'Attack of the Killer Tomatoes'
In the 2009 zombie filled Horror-Comedy film 'Zombieland', what special treat did Tallahassee, played by Woody Harrelson, desire throughout the film?
A Twinkie
“Dig through the ditches
And burn through the witches
I slam in the back of my....”
'Dragula' – Rob Zombie
According to myth, this Halloween Tradition has previously been used to celebrate the Gaelic festival of Samhain, which celebrated Harvest and the changing of seasons, and it was also used to find one's true love!
Bobbing for Apples