History & Origins of Halloween
Halloween originated from which ancient Celtic festival?
Samhain
What vegetable was originally used to make Jack-o’-lanterns before pumpkins?
Turnips
What is the name of the masked killer in the "Halloween" movie franchise?
Michael Myers
What is the most popular Halloween costume in the U.S. nearly every year?
Witch
What mythical creature transforms during a full moon?
Werewolf
In what modern-day country did the Samhain festival originate?
Ireland
In Mexico, the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) is celebrated on which two days?
November 1st and 2nd
Who wrote the gothic novel Frankenstein?
Mary Shelley
What is the term for the night before Halloween, especially in parts of the U.S. where pranks are played?
Mischief Night (or Devil’s Night)
Dracula’s castle is said to be located in what Eastern European region?
Transylvania
The word "Halloween" comes from a contraction of which phrase?
All Hallows’ Evening
What candy was first created in the 1880s and originally called “Chicken Feed”?
Candy Corn
In The Nightmare Before Christmas, what is the name of the Pumpkin King?
Jack Skellington
What company is known for producing the first mass-market Halloween costumes in the 1930s?
Ben Cooper, Inc.
The headless horseman legend originates from which Washington Irving story?
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
What Christian holiday follows Halloween on November 1st?
All Saints’ Day
In the U.S., which state produces the most pumpkins each year?
Illinois
Which 1993 movie features three witch sisters resurrected in Salem?
Hocus Pocus
Which iconic Halloween song features the lyric “I was working in the lab late one night”?
“Monster Mash”
In folklore, what is the name of a spirit or demon said to feed on a sleeping person’s life force, often mistaken for a vampire?
Incubus (or Succubus)
In medieval times, poor people would go door-to-door offering prayers for the dead in exchange for food — a practice known as what?
Souling
The practice of dressing up in costumes and going door to door for treats can be traced back to what medieval tradition?
Guising (or mumming)
Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “The Raven” was first published in which year?
1845
Halloween is the second-largest commercial holiday in the U.S. after which one?
Christmas
What Japanese spirit is known as a vengeful ghost, often a woman in white with long black hair?
Onryō