The Ultimate Halloween Trivia Quiz

1. The origins of Halloween can be traced back to what Celtic festival, believed to be the one day a year that the dead return to earth and roam among the living?

2. One of the most time-honoured ways to celebrate Halloween, the wearing of costumes can be traced back to the ancient Celts. What was the original purpose behind donning costumes and masks?

3. Once Christianity become the dominant religion in the British Isles, Celtic traditions were melded with Christian observances. The name “Halloween” is derived from this Christian holiday, the evening before All Saints’ Day:

4. Modern-day “trick-or-treating” – when children dress in costumes and go door-to-door collecting candy – has its roots in this medieval tradition:

5. Trick-or-treating was brought to America by the Irish, where it became popular in the early 20th century. However, it experienced a temporary decline during WWII, due to what effect of the war?

6. Halloween is the second largest commercial holiday in the US, with consumers buying decorations, costumes and candy for trick-or-treaters. How much do Americans spend each year around Halloween?

7. One explanation for the carving of pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns comes from a Celtic folk tale about a man named Stingy Jack, who played tricks on the devil. When he died, he wasn’t allowed into heaven or hell, and the devil doomed him to roam the earth with only a burning coal to light his way. Ever canny, Jack carved a lantern for his coal – however he didn’t use a pumpkin, but rather a:

8. Instead of Halloween, in Latin America it is more common to celebrate Día de Muertos – particularly in Mexico. A time to honour dearly departed loved ones with food, gifts, processions and prayers, the festivities are symbolised by:

9. In China you might celebrate Yue Lan, the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts. What would the festivities entail?

10. A popular guise for Halloween, vampires have existed in folklore for centuries. However, much of modern vampire legend was established relatively recently – in the 1897 novel 'Dracula', written by what Irish author?

11. Watching spooky-themed movies is a favourite Halloween pastime. Now a cult film, what 1993 movie set in Salem, Massachusetts follows a teenager who accidentally brings back 3 witches that have been dead for 300 years?

12. At Halloween for the past several years, American talk show host Jimmy Kimmel has challenged parents to post funny videos of their children’s reactions to what?

13. “Frankenstein” costumes are a Halloween classic. In the novel 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley, the eponymous character Frankenstein is:

14. Halloween is a time to be whatever you want – except in this US state, where it’s illegal to dress up as a priest or nun…

15. Though its origins are wholly Irish, Halloween has become an even bigger event across “the pond”. What US city hosts the world’s largest Halloween celebration?