History of Halloween
What ancient festival is Halloween based on?
Samhain
What fruit do people carve faces into?
Pumpkins
What does the word “witch” mean in Old English?
Wise woman
What is the Mexican holiday that honors the dead?
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
Define “Samhain.”
The ancient Celtic festival marking the end of harvest
What did the Celts believe happened on October 31?
The boundary between the living and dead blurred
What do children say when they ask for candy?
Trick or treat!
What’s the heaviest pumpkin ever recorded?
Over 2,700 pounds
What do people in Ireland still light to celebrate Halloween?
Bonfires
What is a “bonfire”?
A large outdoor fire used for celebration
What Christian holiday influenced Halloween?
All Saints’ Day
Why do people wear costumes on Halloween?
To scare away evil spirits
How much money do Americans spend on Halloween yearly?
Billions of dollars
What is Japan’s holiday to remember ancestors?
Obon
What do we call clothes people wear to look like someone else?
A costume
When did Halloween come to America?
In the 1800s
What color represents harvest?
Orange
What color represents darkness?
Black
Which country started the Halloween tradition?
Ireland
What does “trick-or-treat” mean?
Children asking for candy door to door
What was the purpose of Samhain?
To mark the end of harvest and honor the dead
What modern activities are based on old Celtic disguises?
Halloween costumes and trick-or-treating
What animal is often seen as a witch’s companion?
A black cat
What type of festival is Obon in Japan?
An ancestor celebration
What’s another word for “ghost”?
Spirit