Just as with every holiday we celebrate, Halloween has many surprising facts that many people do not know. We have listed Halloween trivia questions and answers to use at a party or to test your knowledge of Halloween. We have also included interesting facts, many of which are new to most people. Additionally, we have made suggestions on the best way to use our Halloween trivia questions and answers.
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Halloween Trivia Questions and Answers
Halloween is one of the most popular holidays of the year. But even if you have been celebrating it since you were a kid, how much do you really know about All Hallows Eve? Test your knowledge with these fun trivia questions.
Halloween Trivia Set #1
- In which country did Halloween originate?
- Which Catholic Church holiday is Halloween linked to?
- What was the name of Dracula’s sidekick?
- From which words did ‘bonfire’ originate?
- What does the name Dracula mean?
- What was Dracula’s real name?
- Who was the first actor to play Wolf Man?
- Which phobia means you have an intense fear of Halloween?
- Out of which vegetable were Jack O’ Lanterns originally made?
- Every Halloween, Charlie Brown helps his friend Linus wait for what character to appear?
Halloween Trivia Set #2
- According to superstition, if you stare into a mirror at midnight on Halloween, what will you see?
- From which region in the world do pumpkins originate?
- Who wrote the novel Frankenstein?
- Transylvania is a region in which country?
- Halloween has its origins in which ancient Celtic festival?
- Which actor played Dr. Frank-n-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show?
- Is a pumpkin a fruit or a vegetable?
- What is the significance of seeing a spider on Halloween?
- Which country celebrates the Day of the Dead starting at midnight on Oct. 31?
- According to superstition, a person born on Halloween has what particular ability?
Halloween Trivia Set #3
- Who directed The Nightmare before Christmas?
- Which vampire said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m going to give you the choice I never had.”
- How many people were hanged during the Salem Witch Trials?
- Who is said to haunt the White House Rose Garden?
- Pumpkins can be orange, white, green, or what other color?
- In The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, how many people are killed with a chainsaw?
- What’s the body count for the film Halloween?
- Which year was the movie Freaks made?
- In the original Alien film, how many alien eggs were made for the egg chamber inside the downed spacecraft?
- How many Oscars was Psycho nominated for?
Halloween Trivia Set #4
- Complete this lyric from the hit Halloween song The Monster Mash: “I was working in the lab, late one night…”
- Who wrote the classic novel Dracula?
- What’s the color order of a piece of candy corn, from the base to the point?
- What do people in New England call the night before Halloween?
- In 2004, the city of Hollywood banned the use of what party item on Halloween?
- Halloween was first celebrated by which ancient priests?
- Which Ghostbusters actor also co-wrote the screenplay for the movie?
- Many people in Mexico celebrate Halloween by eating what ghoulish candy treat?
- When do vampires sleep?
- What classic horror film features the quote, “They’re coming to get you, Barbara”?
- Which horror movie icon has the highest on-screen body count?
- In the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, what is the name of Leatherface’s family?
- Lewisburg, Ohio, is home to what famous location? (Hint: It’s 3,564 feet long and located 80 feet underground.)
- It’s illegal to dress like a nun or priest for Halloween in which US state?
- Where do Herman, Lily, Grandpa, and the rest of the Munsters live?
- What is the original name for what we now call Candy Corn?
- Where does Halloween spending rank compared to other holidays? Is it first, second, or third?
- What is the first name of Dr. Frankenstein?
- What costume does Lindsay Lohan’s character wear to the Halloween party in the movie Mean Girls?
- Who famously died on October 31, 1926?
- What was the first movie to show a toilet on-screen?
- What two countries are widely credited with originating the idea of wearing costumes on Halloween?
- What is Samhainophobia?
- Who directed the animated Halloween classic The Nightmare Before Christmas?
Easy Halloween Trivia Questions and Answers
- What does the word ‘Hallow’ in relation to this holiday mean?
- How do pumpkins grow?
- Is a pumpkin a fruit or vegetable?
- What do Halloween colors, black and orange, signify? Orange stands for harvest, and black signifies death.
- What do people “bob” for on Halloween?
Halloween Movie Trivia
With the set release of John Carpenter’s movie, Halloween, we see the return of everyone’s favorite superhuman slash n kill em’ character, Michael Myers. To honor his return, here are some Halloween trivia questions from the much-acclaimed franchise to get you in the right mood.
Halloween Movie Trivia #1
- In Halloween II, when Michael first enters the elderly couple’s home, what movie is playing on their TV?
- In the franchise, what is Michael Myers’ middle name?
- In the first installment of the franchise, we see Michael kill his sister Judith. Who does Jamie stab in Halloween 4 and 5?
- Of all the Halloween movies, one does not feature Michael. Which one is it?
- What job does Mr. Strode do?
- In which does Dr. Sam Loomis appear last?
- How many of the Halloween movies did John Carpenter, the author of the series, direct?
- Who was the first actor to be credited as Michael Myers (as an adult)?
- How many children did Laurie Strode have?
- In the second movie, how many times does Dr. Loomis shoot Michael?
Halloween Movie Trivia #2
- How did the prop department make the classic Michael Myers mask?
- Which Halloween movie features an evil plot by a mask-making company called Silver Shamrock – and notably doesn’t include the character of Michael Myers?
- At the start of the first film, Michael kills which family member? (Bonus points if you know the person’s name.)
- While shooting the movie, who was the only member of the cast that was the correct age to attend high school?
- What was the total budget for the movie?
- Paid $20,000 for just five days of work, what is the name of the actor who portrayed Dr. Loomis?
- In Halloween 4, a widely-loved scene by fans depicts Kelly Meeker getting stabbed with what type of weapon?
- In the first film, what is the name of Laurie’s best friend, who babysits for the couple across the street in a famous scene?
Halloween Trivia Quiz
Away from Michael Myers’ killing sprees and gruesome murders, here are some more, relatively light hearted questions for your Halloween trivia quiz needs.
- What are other names of Halloween?
- True or false: The largest pumpkin pie the world has ever seen was more than 6m in diameter and weighed more than 350 pounds.
- What is the traditional role of Black Cats in Halloween and Occult Lore?
- Among other things, young trick-or-treaters often find razor blades in apples and pins in candy bars in their Halloween loot.
- What region are Vampire Bats from?
- How is the “mystery flavor” of Dum Dums lollipops made?
- How did the Charleston Chew bar get its name?
- The engagement of which now-defunct celebrity couple was sealed with a diamond ring concealed in a Ring Pop wrapper?
- According to a survey by the National Retail Federation, on average, shoppers 18 and older will each spend how much on Halloween candy?
- In the popular Halloween Candy Buyback program, children sell their uneaten candy to local dentists who then distribute it to whom?
The Origin of Halloween
The origin of Halloween can be traced back to the Celts, a tribe that resided in Ireland and Northern France. The Celts’ lives were dependent upon farming and thus, they worshipped nature. The Celts were superstitious. They believed that the winter season brought death. The last day of October marked the end of summer because November was the beginning of winter. The Celts celebrated the last day of October and believed the dead would visit them, so they left food and drink outside their homes for the spirits of the dead. Halloween is thought to have originated around 4000 B.C., which means Halloween has been around for over 6,000 years!
Halloween Trivia for Kids
Finally, a few questions that are suited for children and won’t scare the underage audience too much. Here are some Halloween trivia for kids,
Halloween Trivia Set #1
- What is the number one city for trick or treating in the United States?
- Apart from sucking human blood, what do vampires and bats have in common?
- How much is spent on pet costumes for Halloween annually?
- What type of vegetable is disliked by vampires and is used to frighten them away?
- What color cat is a symbol of Halloween?
- True or false: The word ‘hallow’ means saint or holy person?
- What mammal is able to fly and is associated with Halloween?
- True or false: Halloween is the Eve of All Saints Day?
- What word begins with letter C, looks like a pot and is normally used by witches to brew their potions and cast evil spells?
- What bone, found in the head, is often used as a symbol of Halloween?
Halloween Trivia Set #2
- What date is Halloween celebrated?
- Try and unscramble the following word: BINLOG in order to reveal an ugly, short, green creature that is usually dangerous to humans?
- What traditional activity takes place on Halloween and involves dressing children up in scary costumes and getting candy from neighbors’ houses?
- Complete the following chant, normally said by witches: double, double, toil and …?
- What do witches use to ride in order to get around town?
- How many licks does it take, on average, to reach the center of a Tootsie Pop?
- What does seeing a spider on Halloween signify?
- What is the most popular candy bought within the United States, including during the Halloween holidays?
- How many colors of M&Ms are there?
- What fruit is carved up on Halloween and placed outside for children to see, and what color is it?
Halloween Trivia Set for Kids #3
- What’s another name for a carved pumpkin?
- The Puritans were the first to associate what type of black-colored animals with bad luck?
- Instead of candy, what did kids originally receive when trick or treating?
- What classic comic strip helped boost the popularity of trick or treating in the US?
- The average kid consumes how many calories on Halloween night?
- How much does the world’s biggest pumpkin weigh?
- Instead of pumpkins, what vegetable did many Irish people carve for early Halloweens?
- What creatures can a vampire turn into?
- What did Cousin It from the Adams Family look like?
- Where can you find mummies?
Halloween Facts
Halloween, like any other time of celebration that has been around for a while, has many fun facts associated with it. Read through our list to become familiar with all the fun Halloween trivia.
The Origin of the Word “Witch”
The word “witch” comes from the Old English wicce, meaning “wise woman.” The plural for wicce is wiccan. Wiccan were highly respected people at one time. According to popular belief, witches held one of their two main meetings, or sabbats, on Halloween night.
Owls and Halloween
Owls are associated with Halloween because, in Medieval Europe, owls were thought to be witches. To hear an owl’s call meant someone was about to die.
Jack O’ Lanterns
Jack O’ Lanterns are pumpkins with a lighted candle inside. According to Irish legend, Jack O’ Lanterns are named after a stingy man named Jack who, because he tricked the devil several times, was forbidden entrance into both heaven and hell. Therefore, he was condemned to wander the Earth, waving his lantern to lead people away from their paths.
The Origin of Bonfires
During the celebration of Samhain, bonfires were lit to ensure the sun would return after the long, hard winter. Often Druid priests would throw the bones of cattle into the flames – “bone fire” became “bonfire.”
The History of Candy Corn
Candy Corn was invented by George Renninger, a candy maker at the Wunderle Candy Company of Philadelphia in the 1880s. Candy Corn was originally called “butter cream candies” and “chicken feed” because corn was commonly used as food for livestock. They even had a rooster on the candy boxes. Candy Corn had no association with Halloween or fall, and was sold seasonally from March to November. After World War II, advertisers began marketing it as a special Halloween treat due to its colors that match those of the fall harvest.
The History of Trick-or-Treating
Trick-or-treating has been around for a long time, with versions existing since medieval times. Originally, it was called “guising” and children and poor adults wore costumes and begged for food or money in exchange for songs or prayers during Hallowmas. This practice was also called “souling.”
Halloween Superstitions
- Scottish girls believed they could see images of their future husband if they hung wet sheets in front of the fire on Halloween.
- Some girls believed they would see their boyfriend’s faces if they looked into mirrors while walking downstairs at midnight on Halloween.
- If a person wears their clothes inside out and then walks backwards on Halloween, they will see a witch at midnight.
- Girls who place the apple they bobbed for under their pillows are said to dream of their future love.
Halloween Fun Facts
Tossing a few little known facts out to your Halloween party guests will really get them in the Halloween spirit!
- Agatha Christie’s mystery novel Halloween Party is about a girl who is drowned in an apple-bobbing tub.
- In the United States, the first citywide celebration of Halloween was in Anoka, Minnesota in 1921.
- More than 93% of children under the age of 12 go trick-or-treating.
- Orange and black are Halloween colors because orange is associated with fall harvest and black is associated with darkness and death.
- Over $1.5 billion is spent on costumes each year and more than $2.5 billion on other Halloween paraphernalia
- Halloween is the second most commercially successful holiday; Christmas is the first.
- Tootsie Rolls was the first individually wrapped penny candy in the US.
- Halloween candy sales average about $2 billion annually in the United States and it is the largest candy-purchasing holiday.
- Chocolate candy bars top the list as the most popular candy for trick-or-treaters with Snickers first.
- Pumpkins are not only orange, but also white, blue, and green.
- Black cats were once evil omens thought to be spirits of witches, or a witch’s familiar who protected their powers.
- Apple bobbing is believed to have originated from a Roman harvest festival held in honor of Pomona, the goddess of fruit trees.
- Vampires are mythical creatures who defy death by sucking the blood of humans.
- Vampire bats do exist, but they are not from Transylvania. They live in South and Central America, and thrive on the blood of cattle, horses, and birds.
- Worldwide, bats are vital natural enemies of night-flying insects.
- The common little brown bat of North America has the longest life span for a mammal its size – an average of 32 years.
- If you see a spider on Halloween, it is considered a good luck, as it means the spirit of a loved one is guarding you.
- The 1978 blockbuster, Halloween, was only made in 21 days on a very limited budget.
- Hundreds of vampire clubs and societies exist and claim to have real vampires as their members.
- In 1962, the Count Dracula Society was founded.
- About 50% of adults dress up for Halloween.
- Sixty-seven percent of adults take part in Halloween activities, such as parties, decorating the house, and trick-or-treating with their children.
- 86% of Americans decorate their house for Halloween.
- Over 10% of pet owners dress their pets in Halloween costumes.
- The Ouija Board ended up outselling the game of Monopoly in its first full year at Salem. Over two million copies of the Ouija Board were shipped.
- The first Halloween card was made in the early 1920’s.
- S. consumers spend about $50 million on Halloween greetings, sending over 28 million Halloween cards each year.
- 90% of parents admit to sneaking goodies from their kids’ Halloween trick-or-treat bags.
- More than 35 million pounds of candy corn will be for Halloween. That equates to nearly 9 billion pieces – enough to circle the moon nearly 4 times if laid end-to-end.
- The tradition of making Jack O’ Lanterns to ward off evil spirits is thousands of years old. Jack o’ Lanterns originated in Ireland where people placed candles in hollowed-out turnips to keep away spirits and ghosts on the Samhain holiday.
- Halloween was brought to North America by immigrants from Europe, who celebrated the harvest around a bonfire, shared ghost stories, sang, danced, and told fortunes.
- The ancient Celts, who thought that spirits and ghosts roamed the countryside on Halloween night, began wearing masks and costumes to avoid being recognized as human.
- The fear of Halloween is known as Samhainopobia.
Using Halloween Trivia Question and Answers
Halloween is the one of the most popular holidays and many people have parties to celebrate. Play a game of trivia giving points for correct answers. If you have a large group, consider dividing the players into two or more teams and having them compete against one another. Whoever answers the most questions correct wins the game. If you wish, provide the winners with a special prize. Your guests will enjoy showing of their Halloween knowledge at your celebration.
On October 31st, people will celebrate one of the most popular festivals of all time – Halloween. Prepare to have fun and create a memorable occasion with our Halloween trivia, facts, and questions and answers.
Eleanor is a qualified English teacher and has received a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), specializing in Secondary English, and holds a BA (Hons) in English Literature from Liverpool John Moores University. She is certified to teach English as a foreign language (TEFL) and has worked with students in the U.K. and South East Asia. She currently works as an English teacher in Vietnam, teaching students across a range of ages.
Note: Dracula actually translates as “son of the dragon” not “son of the devil”