Halloween is just eleven days away, and many of its customs are hundreds of years old. This quiz looks at nine of them, from where the name came from to why we carve pumpkins. No scary parts, just fun facts.
Halloween grew in part from an ancient Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest. What was it called?
The word "Halloween" comes from a shortened form of which phrase?
Jack-o'-lanterns in Ireland and Scotland were originally carved from what?
Which two groups of immigrants helped bring Halloween customs to North America in the 1800s?
Trick-or-treating may have grown from "souling," when poor people went door to door for treats in exchange for prayers. What were the treats called?
In Scotland and Ireland, children in costume going door to door for food or coins was called what?
According to History.com, about what fraction of all candy sold in the U.S. each year is bought for Halloween?
Which two colors are most traditionally linked with Halloween?
This year, October 31 falls on which day of the week?
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How to Play
- Tap the answer you think is right.
- You will see right away whether you got it, plus a short explanation.
- Do not worry about the score. Learning something new is the real prize.
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A Tip for Trivia
Questions about traditions often have an answer hiding in the name itself. If a word like “souling” or “guising” is part of the question, try breaking it into pieces and see what it tells you.