Halloween History
What country did Halloween originate from?
What is Ireland? Halloween traces back to the ancient Celtic festival Samhain in Ireland, over 2,000 years ago. The Celts believed that on October 31st, the boundary between the living and the dead was blurred, so they lit bonfires and wore costume to ward off wandering spirits.
What is a witch's flying companion?
What is a black cat? In folklore, black cats were often thought to be a witch's familiar, a magical animal that helped them with their spells. The superstition even led people to believe crossing paths with a black cat brought bad luck.
Who is the villain in Friday the 13th?
Who is Jason Voorhees? Jason is famous for his hockey mask and machete, but in the very first Friday the 13th, the real killer was actually his mother, Pamela Voorhees. Jason himself didn't become the main villain until the sequels.
What animal crossing your path is bad luck?
What is a black cat? The superstition goes back to the Middle Ages, when black cats were linked to witches and thought to be their magical helpers. In some cultures, though, a black cat crossing your path is actually considered good luck, like in Japan and parts of Great Britain.
What is the most popular Halloween costume for kids?
What is a superhero? Superheroes have topped costume charts in many surveys, surpassing traditional favorites like princesses.
What was Halloween originally called?
What is Samhain? Samhain was the Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. People believed spirits of the dead returned to visit the living, which is why bonfires, costumes, and offerings were used to protect communities.
What creature is a bat-like human?
What is a vampire? Legends of vampires describe them as humans who could transform into bats or mist to sneak into homes at night. This image became especially popular after Bram Stoker's Dracula, which centered the vampire-bat connection into popular culture.
What is the haunted hotel in The Shining?
What is the Overlook Hotel? The Overlook Hotel is a fictional location created by Stephen King, but it was inspired by the real Stanley Hotel in Colorado, where King himself stayed. In the film, the hotel becomes a character of its own, with its endless hallways, eerie ballroom, and the famous Room 237.
What number is considered unlucky?
What is 13? The fear if the number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia. Many hotels and skyscrapers skip the 13th floor, and the superstition is part of why Friday the 13th is seen as an unlucky day. The number's "bad luck" reputation dates back centuries, including connections to the Last Supper.
What superhero costume is popular for Halloween?
Who is Spider-Man? Spider-man has consistently been one of the top-selling Halloween costumes for decades. His bright red-and-blue suit, web-slinging powers, and kid-friendly appeal make him a favorite every year.
What group brought Halloween to America?
Who are the Irish immigrants? Halloween came to the US in the 1800s, especially during the Irish Potato Famine when many Irish immigrated. They carried their traditions of Samhain and the practice of carving turnips, which in America turned into carving pumpkins-the jack o' lanterns we know today.
What creature is often depicted as a man-wolf?
What is a werewolf? Werewolves are human cursed (or sometimes choosing) to transform into wolves, often during a full moon. The myth comes from European folklore where people believed witches or curses could turn someone into a wolf-like beast.
What horror film features a puzzle-solving killer?
What is Saw? The Saw films center around the villain Jigsaw, who doesn't technically kill his victims directly, he traps them in deadly puzzles and forces them to make horrific choices. The series became famous for its twisted moral lessons and grisly traps.
What happens if you break a mirror?
What is seven years of bad luck? This belief dates back to the Romans, who thought mirror held a piece of the soul. Since they believed life renewed every seven years, breaking a mirror meant damaging your soul's reflection until it could heal.
What is a common Halloween costume for couples?
What are Bonnie and Clyde, Harley Quinn and the Joker, Barbie and Ken, Mario and Princess Peach, peanut butter and jelly etc.?
What vegetable was originally used for Jaco' lanterns?
What is a turnip? In Ireland and Scotland, people carved scary faces into turnips and potatoes to frighten away spirits. When Irish immigrants came to America, they found that pumpkins, native to the New World, were bigger, softer, and much easier to carve, so pumpkins quickly became the tradition.
What is another name for Bigfoot?
What is Sasquatch? The name Sasquatch comes from the Halkomelem word sásq'ets, used by Indigenous peoples in the Pacific Northwest. Bigfoot legends describe a large, hairy, ape-like creature living in remote forests, and sightings date back hundreds of years.
What horror movie is based on a true story of demonic possession?
What is The Exorcist? The Exorcist was inspired by the real-life 1949 case of a boy known as "Roland Doe" who underwent a series of exorcisms performed by Catholic priests. The film became one of the most influential horror movies of all time and was even blamed for strange occurrences and fainting in theaters when it premiered.
What is said to happen when a witch's broom falls?
What is a visitor coming? In old folk beliefs, a broom falling on its own meant unexpected company was on the way. Brooms are tied to threshold and household luck, so their movement was read as an omen, one of many everyday signs people watched for around Halloween.
What is a classic monster costume for adults?
What is Dracula? Dracula has been a go-to Halloween costume ever since Bela Lugosi's iconic performance in the 1931 film. The cape, and slicked-back hair make it instantly recognizable, and it ties back to centuries-old vampire legends.
This Catholic holiday, meaning "All Saints' Day" helped give Halloween its name.
What is All Hallows' Day? The word Halloween comes from All Hallows' Eve the night before All Saints' Day on November 1st. Over time, All Hallows' Eve got shortened to Hallowe'en, and eventually just Halloween.
This legendary creature from New Jersey folklore is said to have wings, hooves, and a terrifying screech
What is the Jersey Devil? The Jersey Devil is said to haunt the Pine Barrens of souther New Jersey. Descriptions vary, but it's usually depicted as a mix of animal parts, like a kangaroo body, bat wings, goat head, and forked tail. The legend dates back to the 1700s and has inspired countless sightings and stories.
In A Nightmare on Elm Street, what is the name of the villain who haunts teenagers in their dreams?
Who is Freddy Krueger? Freddy is known for his burned face, striped sweater, and glove with razor-sharp blades. His character was partly inspired by stories of young people who mysteriously died in their sleep, which creator Wes Craven read about in the news.
What is the dead are following you? Old Celtic beliefs said that on Halloween, spirits of the dead roamed the earth. If you heard footsteps but saw no one, it was thought to be a ghost trailing you, reminding people of how thing the veil between worlds was on that night.
This white sheet costume is one of the oldest and simplest Halloween disguises.
What is a ghost? The classic bedsheet ghost goes back to early Halloween traditions, when costumes were meant to hide you from spirits wandering on Halloween. Simple sheets with cut-out eyes made it easy (and spooky!) for anyone to join in the fun.