Halloween Traditions and History

When is Halloween celebrated each year?

• October 1st

• November 30th

• October 31st

• September 15th

Which ancient people celebrated the festival called Samhain, marking the end of harvest and beginning of winter?

• Romans

• Egyptians

• Celts

• Greeks

What was the original name for the night before All Saints' Day, which later became Halloween?

• All Souls' Night

• All Hallows' Eve

• Spirit Night

• Harvest Eve

In the past, why did people dress up in costumes on Halloween?

• To win costume contests

• To scare away ghosts

• To get free food

• To perform plays

In medieval times, what did children ask for when going house-to-house?

• Candy and toys

• New clothes

• Food or coins in exchange for prayers

• Books and school supplies

The tradition of carving pumpkins comes from an old Irish story about a man who tricked the devil. What was his name?

• Jack the Giant

• Stingy Jack

• Pumpkin Jack

• Tricky Jack

Before pumpkins became popular for carving, what did people in Ireland use to carve scary faces to chase away evil spirits?

• Apples or pears

• Squash or gourds

• Turnips or potatoes

• Melons or cantaloupes

Which of the following is NOT a common activity associated with Halloween today?

• Costume parties

• Haunted houses

• Thanksgiving feasts

• Trick-or-treating