History
In what century was November 1st designated All Saints Day?
Eighth Century, by Pope George III
What percentage of the total candy sold annually is purchased for Halloween?
25%
Name a family-friendly Halloween Movie.
Some examples:
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Hocus Pocus
Halloweentown
Beetlejuice
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
Which president is believed by many to be haunting the White House?
For years, presidents, first ladies, guests, and members of the White House staff have claimed to have either seen Abraham Lincoln or felt his presence.
According to Google Trends, what is the most searched costume for 2024?
Shrunken Head Bob, from “Beetlejuice”
What was the night before All Saints Day originally called?
All Hallows Eve
On average, how much do Americans spend on Halloween annually (including candy, costumes, decorations, etc.)?
$6 billion
What is generally considered the first "slasher" film?
Psycho dir. Alfred Hitchcock
What is the meaning of the word Poltergeist?
The word comes from German and means 'noisy ghost'.
What is considered the most popular urban legend surrounding Halloween, and the custom of trick or treating?
Poisoned candy myths are urban legends about malevolent strangers hiding dangerous items or poison in candy, which they distribute with the intent of harming children. However, there have been no confirmed cases of strangers harming children this way.
Which 19th century historical event created an influx of new immigrants to the United States, helping to popularize the celebration of Halloween?
In the second half of the 19th century, America was flooded with millions of new immigrants from Ireland fleeing the Irish Potato Famine.
Why is it considered bad luck to cross paths with a black cat?
This idea has its roots in the Middle Ages, when many people believed that witches avoided detection by turning themselves into black cats.
Who played the Wicked Witch of the West in the iconic film, "The Wizard of Oz"?
Margaret Hamilton
What do you call a scientist who studies the paranormal?
Parapsychologists.
What is the highest grossing horror film of all time?
It, 2017.
$702,781,748
In what years was the tradition of trick or treating revived and popularized across the United States?
While trick or treating was a centuries old practice, between 1920 and 1950, the tradition was revived. Trick-or-treating was a relatively inexpensive way for an entire community to share the Halloween celebration. In theory, families could prevent "tricks" (vandalism, etc.) from being played on them by providing the neighborhood children with small treats.
What Irish myth is believed to have led to the carving of gourds (including pumpkins)?
Stingy Jack: According to the legend, Jack tricks the Devil into paying for his drink and then traps him in the form of a coin. The Devil eventually takes revenge and Jack ends up roaming Earth for eternity. He does, however, have a lighted coal, which he places inside a carved turnip, creating the original Jack-o-lantern.
What was the first chart-topping Halloween tune?
That Old Black Magic
Glenn Miller and Orchestra, 1943
What popular Halloween character can be found in cultures across the globe?
Ghosts
In some cultures, ghosts are celebrated, like in Mexico's Day of the Dead, where people get together to remember their ancestors, while other cultures see ghosts as omens of bad luck, like the Irish banshee!
What country is considered the most haunted?
According to a study based on the number of reported ghost and UFO sightings and haunted historic places the United States is the most haunted place in the world, followed by the United Kingdom.
What early tradition predates trick-or-treating, and was popular in England during All Saints Day parades?
During All Saints Day parades, poor citizens would beg for food and families would give them pastries called “soul cakes” in return for their promise to pray for the family’s dead relatives.
The practice, which was referred to as “going a-souling,” was eventually taken up by children who would visit the houses in their neighborhood and be given ale, food and money.
What common pantry staple is said to be used to ward off evil spirits?
Salt!
Some say that salt acts as a protective shield against evil spirits and malevolent entities and has been a practice dating back to ancient times.
How many films feature Dracula as one of the main characters?
There have been 23 mainline Dracula films (1931-2023), including the four Hotel Transylvania movies!
In what year was the first ghost story shared?
A small clay tablet, which can fit into the palm of your hand, is said to depict one of the first ghost stories. The story on the tablet is about an exorcism from Babylon in 1500 B.C.E.
This ancient tablet is currently held in the collections of the British Museum but has never been exhibited. The last text line on the tablet urges the viewer to “not look behind you!”
What state is known for growing the most pumpkins every year?
Illinois farms typically grow about 37,500 pumpkin pounds per acre and about 630 million pounds of pumpkins overall.