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Style Magazine

The 10 Spot - Halloween Trivia

Oct 12, 2011 08:51AM ● By Style

Halloween is one of the most frightfully fun holidays. Every year, on October 31, kids dress up in creative, off-the-wall costumes and go trick or treating – hoping to get their favorite candy – while adults might get in the fun too, by hosting or attending a Halloween bash. But how much do you know about this spooky day of celebration? Take Style’s quiz and see if you’re scary smart!

  • 1. What are the two Halloween colors and what do they represent?

  • 2. Who first brought Halloween to North America?

  • 3. In terms of commercial success, how does Halloween rank amongst the other holidays worldwide?

  • 4. What candy bar is at the top of kids’ trick-or-treating lists?

  • 5. Which cartoon character is most associated with Halloween; what show did he first appear on?

  • 6. What did Halloween used to be called in the UK and why?

  • 7. Where did Halloween get its name?

  • 8. Where did the phrase “trick or treating” originate?

  • 9. What was the first wrapped penny candy?

  • 10. Where did the custom of wearing costumes come from?


SPOILER ALERT!
Answers on the next page...

 

Answers

1. Orange and black. Orange represents fall and black stands for darkness and death.

 

2. Immigrants from Europe, who would celebrate the harvest around a bonfire, share ghost stories, sing, dance and tell fortunes.

 

3. Halloween is the second most successful holiday worldwide (Christmas is the first).

 

4. Snickers.

 

5. Casper, the friendly ghost, one of the oldest in cartoon history. He first appeared in a series titled Noveltoons in 1946.

 

6. Halloween was sometimes called “Nutcrack Night” or “Snap Apple Night,” because families would eat nuts and apples in front of the fire while telling stories.

7. Halloween, referred to as All Hallows Eve, was originally a pagan holiday where they honored the dead. It was celebrated on October 31, since this was the last day of the Celtic calendar.

 

8. On Halloween, Irish peasants would beg the rich for food. For those that refused, they would play a practical joke. So, to avoid being tricked, the rich would hand out cookies, candy and fruit, which became “trick or treat” today.

 

9. Tootsie rolls.

 

10. The ancient Celts thought that spirits and ghosts wandered the streets on All Hallows Eve, so they began wearing masks and costumes in order to not be recognized as human.