Halloween!
What color is traditionally associated with Halloween alongside black?
Orange.
What vegetable is famously used to make jack-o'-lanterns?
Pumpkins.
What date is Halloween celebrated every year?
October 31.
True or false: Owls can turn their heads all the way around in a complete 360-degree circle.
False! They can turn their heads about 270 degrees, not 360.
Was Samhain associated with the beginning of winter or the beginning of summer?
The beginning of winter.
What do people traditionally bob for in a tub of water during Halloween parties?
Apples.
What farm animal is often associated with a scarecrow's job of protecting crops from birds?
Birds are the creatures scarecrows are meant to scare away!
Which American holiday comes immediately after Halloween, on November 1, in the Christian calendar?
All Saints' Day.
What is the name of the fear of the dark?
Nyctophobia.
What type of calendar did ancient Celtic communities rely on for seasonal activities: a digital calendar or observations of the seasons and natural cycles?
Observations of the seasons and natural cycles.
What Halloween decoration is made to look like a human skeleton?
A skeleton.
What grain is commonly popped to make popcorn?
Corn.
What was the name of the medieval Christian observance on October 31, the evening before All Saints' Day?
All Hallows' Eve.
True or false: A full moon occurs every Halloween.
False! Halloween sometimes falls near a full moon, but not every year.
What does the modern English word “Halloween” come from?
“All Hallows' Eve,” meaning the evening before All Saints' Day.
What name is given to a group of witches in folklore?
A coven.
What is the name for the process of turning apples into juice that can be fermented into alcoholic cider?
Apple pressing. (The juice itself can be fermented afterward.)
What famous magician and escape artist died on October 31, 1926?
Harry Houdini.
Which creature can regrow a lost tail: a bat, a spider, or a lizard?
Some lizards can regrow their tails.
What was one reason bonfires were important in some traditional Samhain celebrations?
They were part of seasonal rituals and communal gatherings.
In the classic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, what kind of witch does Dorothy encounter in the West?
The Wicked Witch of the West.
What is the name of the traditional fall celebration held in many communities to mark the end of the growing season and gather around food, crafts, and entertainment?
A harvest festival.
Which 19th-century wave of immigration helped spread Irish Halloween customs, including traditions involving carved turnips, to the United States?
Irish immigration, particularly during and after the Great Famine of the 1840s.
True or false: The word “witch” historically referred only to women.
False! Historical beliefs about witchcraft included both women and men, although women were disproportionately accused in many witch trials.
Is it historically accurate to say every ancient Celt celebrated Samhain in exactly the same way?
No! Customs varied across places and communities, and evidence about ancient practices is incomplete.