60 Halloween trivia questions and answers
Every question has four choices. The correct answer is in bold, with a short note you can read aloud.
Halloween history and traditions trivia
From Samhain and soul cakes to the first "trick or treat".
Halloween grew out of which ancient Celtic festival?
- A. Beltane
- B. Samhain
- C. Saturnalia
- D. Lupercalia
Answer: B. Samhain. Samhain (say "SOW-in") marked the end of the harvest around November 1, when the line between the living and the dead was said to be thin.
The word "Halloween" is a short form of which phrase?
- A. Hallowed Evening Feast
- B. Holy Ween Day
- C. All Hallows' Eve
- D. Hollow Evening
Answer: C. All Hallows' Eve. It is the evening before All Hallows' Day, an old name for All Saints' Day.
Which holiday falls on November 1, the day after Halloween?
- A. All Saints' Day
- B. Guy Fawkes Night
- C. Martinmas
- D. Veterans Day
Answer: A. All Saints' Day. All Saints' Day is November 1, and All Souls' Day follows on November 2.
Before pumpkins, what did people in Ireland and Scotland carve into lanterns?
- A. Apples
- B. Watermelons
- C. Turnips
- D. Coconuts
Answer: C. Turnips. Turnips, and sometimes potatoes or beets, were hollowed out and lit with a coal or candle.
Which immigrants are most often credited with bringing Halloween customs to the United States in the 1800s?
- A. Irish
- B. Italian
- C. German
- D. Dutch
Answer: A. Irish. Large numbers of Irish (and Scottish) immigrants arrived in the 1840s and brought their Halloween traditions with them.
In medieval "souling", the poor went door to door offering prayers for the dead in return for what?
- A. Candles
- B. Soul cakes
- C. Coins
- D. Apples
Answer: B. Soul cakes. Soul cakes were small round spiced cakes, an early cousin of trick-or-treat candy.
In Scotland, children going door to door in costume is traditionally called what?
- A. Mumming
- B. Wassailing
- C. Guising
- D. Souling
Answer: C. Guising. Guisers (from "disguise") performed a song, poem or joke to earn their treat.
The earliest known printed use of "trick or treat" in North America dates from which decade?
- A. 1820s
- B. 1870s
- C. 1920s
- D. 1960s
Answer: C. 1920s. A 1927 newspaper report from Alberta, Canada, is the oldest known example.
In the Irish legend of Stingy Jack, the first jack-o'-lantern, who did Jack trick?
- A. A king
- B. The Devil
- C. A witch
- D. His brother
Answer: B. The Devil. Jack tricked the Devil, so after he died he was left to wander the earth with only a coal inside a carved turnip for light.
Bobbing for apples is often linked to Pomona, the Roman goddess of what?
- A. The sea
- B. War
- C. Fruit and orchards
- D. The moon
Answer: C. Fruit and orchards. Some historians tie Halloween apple games to Roman harvest customs honouring Pomona; others think they are purely Celtic and British.
What are the two classic Halloween colours?
- A. Red and green
- B. Orange and black
- C. Purple and gold
- D. Blue and silver
Answer: B. Orange and black. Orange stands for the autumn harvest and black for darkness and the end of the year.
Which city holds the Village Halloween Parade, one of the largest Halloween parades in the world?
- A. New Orleans
- B. Salem
- C. New York City
- D. Chicago
Answer: C. New York City. The parade has marched through Greenwich Village in Manhattan since the 1970s.
Halloween movie, book and monster trivia
Dracula, Frankenstein, Hocus Pocus and the Great Pumpkin.
Who wrote the novel Frankenstein, first published in 1818?
- A. Edgar Allan Poe
- B. Mary Shelley
- C. Bram Stoker
- D. Charles Dickens
Answer: B. Mary Shelley. Mary Shelley started the story at 18, during a ghost-story contest with Lord Byron.
In Bram Stoker's 1897 novel, Count Dracula lives in which region?
- A. Transylvania
- B. Bavaria
- C. Tuscany
- D. Siberia
Answer: A. Transylvania. Transylvania is a region of present-day Romania.
Who wrote "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", the story of the Headless Horseman?
- A. Washington Irving
- B. Mark Twain
- C. Nathaniel Hawthorne
- D. Stephen King
Answer: A. Washington Irving. Washington Irving published it in 1820.
What is the name of the schoolteacher chased by the Headless Horseman?
- A. Ebenezer Scrooge
- B. Ichabod Crane
- C. Rip Van Winkle
- D. Brom Bones
Answer: B. Ichabod Crane. Brom Bones is his rival in the story, and Ichabod Crane is the one who disappears.
Which 1978 John Carpenter film introduced the masked killer Michael Myers?
- A. Friday the 13th
- B. Scream
- C. Halloween
- D. The Shining
Answer: C. Halloween. Halloween was made for about $300,000 and became one of the most profitable independent films of its time.
In "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown", who waits all night in the pumpkin patch?
- A. Snoopy
- B. Lucy
- C. Schroeder
- D. Linus
Answer: D. Linus. Linus is sure the Great Pumpkin will rise from the most sincere pumpkin patch. The special first aired in 1966.
What is the last name of the three witch sisters in Hocus Pocus (1993)?
- A. Sanderson
- B. Halliwell
- C. Owens
- D. Spellman
Answer: A. Sanderson. Winifred, Mary and Sarah Sanderson are brought back to Salem on Halloween night.
What is the name of the Pumpkin King in The Nightmare Before Christmas?
- A. Oogie Boogie
- B. Jack Skellington
- C. Zero
- D. Sally
Answer: B. Jack Skellington. Jack Skellington rules Halloween Town. Zero is his ghost dog and Sally is the rag doll who loves him.
Which horror film star performs the spoken rap in Michael Jackson's "Thriller"?
- A. Boris Karloff
- B. Bela Lugosi
- C. Vincent Price
- D. Christopher Lee
Answer: C. Vincent Price. Vincent Price recorded the creepy spoken part for the 1982 song.
In Edgar Allan Poe's famous poem, which bird keeps saying "Nevermore"?
- A. An owl
- B. A crow
- C. A raven
- D. A vulture
Answer: C. A raven. "The Raven" was published in 1845 and made Poe famous.
In most stories, what makes a werewolf transform?
- A. A full moon
- B. A thunderstorm
- C. Midnight bells
- D. A solar eclipse
Answer: A. A full moon. The full moon link became popular through Hollywood werewolf films of the 1940s.
In folklore, which food is said to keep vampires away?
- A. Onions
- B. Garlic
- C. Pepper
- D. Salt
Answer: B. Garlic. Garlic, crosses, holy water and sunlight are the classic vampire defences.
Halloween candy and pumpkin trivia
Candy corn, chocolate bars and some very heavy pumpkins.
What was candy corn originally sold as in the late 1800s?
- A. Harvest Kernels
- B. Chicken Feed
- C. Sugar Corn
- D. Autumn Drops
Answer: B. Chicken Feed. Its corn-kernel shape was a nod to farm life, so it was marketed as "Chicken Feed".
What are the three colours of classic candy corn?
- A. Red, white and blue
- B. Yellow, orange and white
- C. Orange, black and white
- D. Brown, orange and yellow
Answer: B. Yellow, orange and white. From the wide end: yellow, then orange, then a white tip.
Botanically speaking, what is a pumpkin?
- A. A vegetable
- B. A root
- C. A fruit
- D. A nut
Answer: C. A fruit. It grows from a flower and holds seeds, which makes it a fruit.
Which US state grows the most pumpkins?
- A. California
- B. Illinois
- C. Texas
- D. Maine
Answer: B. Illinois. Illinois leads by far, and most of the canned pumpkin in the US comes from there.
Pumpkins belong to the same plant family as which of these?
- A. Potatoes
- B. Cucumbers
- C. Carrots
- D. Apples
Answer: B. Cucumbers. Pumpkins, cucumbers, squash, melons and gourds are all in the gourd family.
The Snickers bar is named after what?
- A. A Mars family horse
- B. A cartoon character
- C. A New York street
- D. A sound people made eating it
Answer: A. A Mars family horse. Snickers was the name of a horse the Mars family loved. The bar came out in 1930.
What do the two Ms in M&M's stand for?
- A. Milk and Malt
- B. Mars and Murrie
- C. Melt and Munch
- D. Mini and Mighty
Answer: B. Mars and Murrie. Forrest Mars and Bruce Murrie launched the candy in 1941.
Roasted, hull-free pumpkin seeds are often called what?
- A. Pepitas
- B. Pistachios
- C. Pinto seeds
- D. Pralines
Answer: A. Pepitas. Pepita is a Mexican Spanish word for a small squash seed.
About how much do the heaviest giant pumpkins in contests weigh?
- A. About 200 pounds
- B. About 700 pounds
- C. More than 2,000 pounds
- D. About 10,000 pounds
Answer: C. More than 2,000 pounds. Record pumpkins have passed 2,700 pounds (over 1,200 kg), heavier than a small car.
The 3 Musketeers bar first came as three pieces in three flavours: chocolate, vanilla and what?
- A. Banana
- B. Strawberry
- C. Mint
- D. Caramel
Answer: B. Strawberry. Wartime rationing of strawberries and vanilla soon left only the chocolate piece.
Pumpkin pie spice is usually cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and which other spice?
- A. Cumin
- B. Paprika
- C. Cloves
- D. Oregano
Answer: C. Cloves. Many blends also add a little allspice.
Roughly how much do Americans spend on Halloween candy each year?
- A. About $3 million
- B. About $300 million
- C. A few billion dollars
- D. About $300 billion
Answer: C. A few billion dollars. National Retail Federation surveys put Halloween candy spending at around $3.5 to $4 billion a year.
Halloween around the world
Day of the Dead, barmbrack, Bonfire Night and more.
Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is most closely tied to which country?
- A. Spain
- B. Mexico
- C. Brazil
- D. Italy
Answer: B. Mexico. It is celebrated on November 1 and 2, with home altars called ofrendas.
What are the decorated sugar skulls of the Day of the Dead called?
- A. Calaveras
- B. Piñatas
- C. Churros
- D. Maracas
Answer: A. Calaveras. Calavera means skull in Spanish. Each one often has a name written on its forehead.
Which bright orange flower covers Day of the Dead altars?
- A. Tulip
- B. Sunflower
- C. Marigold
- D. Rose
Answer: C. Marigold. Marigolds (cempasúchil) are said to guide spirits home with their colour and scent.
What is pan de muerto?
- A. A sweet bread for the Day of the Dead
- B. A spicy soup
- C. A paper decoration
- D. A kind of mask
Answer: A. A sweet bread for the Day of the Dead. Its name means "bread of the dead". The dough on top is shaped like bones.
In Ireland, which Halloween fruit bread hides a ring that is said to predict a wedding?
- A. Soda bread
- B. Barmbrack
- C. Scone
- D. Stollen
Answer: B. Barmbrack. Whoever gets the ring in their slice is said to marry within the year.
Which country is often called the birthplace of Halloween?
- A. England
- B. Ireland
- C. France
- D. United States
Answer: B. Ireland. Halloween grew from the Gaelic festival of Samhain, celebrated in Ireland for more than 2,000 years.
In modern Irish, "Samhain" is the name of which month?
- A. October
- B. November
- C. December
- D. January
Answer: B. November. Samhain is Irish for November, and Oíche Shamhna (Samhain night) is Halloween.
Which British celebration a few days after Halloween is known for bonfires and fireworks?
- A. Boxing Day
- B. Bonfire Night
- C. May Day
- D. Burns Night
Answer: B. Bonfire Night. Bonfire Night, or Guy Fawkes Night, is on November 5 and recalls the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605.
Huge Halloween costume crowds famously gather in which Tokyo district?
- A. Shibuya
- B. Ginza
- C. Asakusa
- D. Akihabara
Answer: A. Shibuya. Crowds grew so large that the Shibuya ward now asks visitors not to come for Halloween.
The Hungry Ghost Festival, when families make offerings to wandering spirits, is mainly celebrated where?
- A. Scandinavia
- B. East and Southeast Asia
- C. South America
- D. West Africa
Answer: B. East and Southeast Asia. It takes place in the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar, usually in August or September.
Transylvania, home of the Dracula legend, is a region of which country today?
- A. Hungary
- B. Romania
- C. Bulgaria
- D. Poland
Answer: B. Romania. Bran Castle in Transylvania is sold to tourists as "Dracula's Castle".
Vlad III, the prince often linked to Dracula, is better known by which nickname?
- A. Vlad the Great
- B. Vlad the Impaler
- C. Vlad the Bold
- D. Vlad the Wolf
Answer: B. Vlad the Impaler. His name in Romanian is Vlad Țepeș. Stoker borrowed his family name, Dracula, for the Count.
Halloween trivia for kids
Easy questions for ages 5 to 9.
On what date is Halloween?
- A. October 13
- B. October 31
- C. November 1
- D. December 31
Answer: B. October 31. Halloween is on October 31 every year.
What do kids say when someone opens the door on Halloween?
- A. Happy holidays!
- B. Trick or treat!
- C. Boo-hoo!
- D. Good night!
Answer: B. Trick or treat!. Then they say thank you for the treat!
Which animal is often a witch's pet in stories?
- A. A black cat
- B. A goldfish
- C. A puppy
- D. A parrot
Answer: A. A black cat. Black cats are a classic witch's helper.
What do witches fly on in stories?
- A. A carpet
- B. A broomstick
- C. A bicycle
- D. A cloud
Answer: B. A broomstick. A broomstick, usually across a full moon.
What do we call a carved pumpkin with a light inside?
- A. A pumpkin pie
- B. A jack-o'-lantern
- C. A gourd lamp
- D. A goblin
Answer: B. A jack-o'-lantern. It is named after Stingy Jack from an old Irish story.
What colour are most pumpkins?
- A. Blue
- B. Purple
- C. Orange
- D. Pink
Answer: C. Orange. Most are orange, but some pumpkins are white, green or even striped.
Which animal sleeps upside down and flies at night?
- A. An owl
- B. A bat
- C. A frog
- D. A squirrel
Answer: B. A bat. Bats hang upside down to rest and come out after dark.
Which monster is wrapped in bandages?
- A. A vampire
- B. A zombie
- C. A mummy
- D. A ghost
Answer: C. A mummy. Long ago in Egypt, people were wrapped in cloth strips to become mummies.
What does a spider spin?
- A. A web
- B. A blanket
- C. A nest
- D. A rope
Answer: A. A web. Spiders spin silk webs to catch insects.
How many legs does a spider have?
- A. Four
- B. Six
- C. Eight
- D. Ten
Answer: C. Eight. Spiders have eight legs. Insects have six.
What word does a ghost shout to scare people?
- A. Moo!
- B. Boo!
- C. Achoo!
- D. Yahoo!
Answer: B. Boo!. Boo! Did it scare you?
Where do pumpkins grow?
- A. On tall trees
- B. Underground
- C. On vines in a patch
- D. In the sea
Answer: C. On vines in a patch. Pumpkins grow on long vines that spread across the ground.