Origins
Bump in the Night
By the Numbers
Movies and Music
Potpourri
100
This word comes from the Old English wicce, meaning “wise woman.” The plural for wicce is wiccan. Wiccan were highly respected people at one time. According to popular belief, they held one of their two main meetings, or sabbats, on Halloween night.
What is "Witch"
100
This animal is associated with Halloween because, in Medieval Europe, they were thought to be witches. To hear their call meant someone was about to die.
What is an "owl"
100
This city's Village Halloween Parade draws over 2 million spectators and includes 60,000 participants, but it started out as just a simple idea from a resident and puppeteer, Ralph Lee, a walk from house to house for his children and their friends.
What is "New York City"
100
This famous villan stalks children in their dreams.
Who is "Freddy Krueger"
100
This country is typically believed to be the birthplace of Halloween
What is "Ireland"
200
During the celebration of Samhain, these ensured the sun would return after the long, hard winter.
What is "bonfires" Fact: Often Druid priests would throw the bones of cattle into the flames – “bone fire” became “bonfire.”
200
These were once believed to be witches' familiars who protected their powers.
What is "black cats"
200
More than 35 million pounds of this candy will be for Halloween. That equates to nearly 9 billion pieces – enough to circle the moon nearly 4 times if laid end-to-end.
What is "candy corn"
200
The 1978 movie Halloween was on such a tight budget, that producers used a mask of this famous actor and painted it white for the character Michael Meyers.
What is "William Shatner" Fact: Shatner initially didn’t know the mask was in his likeness, but when he found out years later, he said he was honored.
200
When you have a fear of Halloween, you have this.
What is "Samhainophobia"
300
This candy was invented by George Renninger, a candy maker at the Wunderle Candy Company of Philadelphia in the 1880s. Originally called “butter cream candies” and “chicken feed."
What is "candy corn"
300
According to legend, a uni-brow, tattoos, and a long middle finger are all signs of this Halloween creature.
What is a "werewolf"
300
This city holds the record for the most Jack O’Lanterns lit at once--30,128!
What is "Boston, Massachusetts"
300
This food was used for blood in the movie "Psycho."
What is "Chocolate Syrup"
300
If you see one of these on Halloween, it is considered good luck, as it means the spirit of a loved one is guarding you.
What is a "spider"
400
This candy was the first individually wrapped penny candy in the US in 1896.
What is a "Tootsie Roll"
400
This type of bat lives in South and Central America and thrives on the blood of cattle, horses, and birds.
What is "Vampire Bats"
400
The game ended up outselling the game of Monopoly in its first full year at Salem. Over two million copies were shipped.
What is "Ouija Board"
400
“You try to scream, but terror takes the sound before you make it” comes from this iconic spooky pop song.
What is "Thriller - Michael Jackson
400
Scottish girls believed they could see these if they hung wet sheets in front of the fire on Halloween.
What is "Future Husband"
500
This Halloween tradition is thought to have originated from the Roman harvest festival that honors Pamona, the goddess of fruit trees.
What is "bobbing for apples"
500
This monster drinks the blood of goats and chickens.
What is "El Chupacabra"
500
This is the percentage of adults who take part in Halloween activities, such as parties, decorating the house, and trick-or-treating with their children.
What is "67%"
500
"If there's something weird, and it don't look good," you can call this person to sing you the Ghostbusters theme song.
Who is "Ray Parker Jr."
500
It is believed that if you wear your clothes inside out and then walk backwards on Halloween, you will see one of these at midnight.
What is a "witch"