Question 1

In "Hocus Pocus", what are the names of the three Sanderson sisters?

Accepted Answer

Winifred, Sarah and Mary. Played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, the Sanderson sisters were resurrected in Salem in the 1993 Disney film and its 2022 sequel.

Question 2

Who directed "The Nightmare Before Christmas" (1993)?

Accepted Answer

Henry Selick (produced by Tim Burton). Although widely associated with Tim Burton, the stop-motion film was actually directed by Henry Selick, who later directed "Coraline" using similar techniques.

Question 3

What is the name of the killer in the "Halloween" horror franchise?

Accepted Answer

Michael Myers. Michael Myers first appeared in John Carpenter's 1978 film "Halloween" and has stalked his sister Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) across more than a dozen films.

Question 4

In Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" (1960), what is the name of the motel where Marion Crane stays?

Accepted Answer

The Bates Motel. The Bates Motel is run by Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) and his mother. The famous shower scene took seven days to film and changed the horror genre forever.

Question 5

Who directed the 2017 social horror film "Get Out"?

Accepted Answer

Jordan Peele. Peele won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for his directorial debut, launching a new wave of socially conscious horror filmmaking.

Question 6

In "A Nightmare on Elm Street", what is the name of the dream-stalking killer?

Accepted Answer

Freddy Krueger. Played by Robert Englund, Freddy Krueger appeared first in Wes Craven's 1984 original and became one of the most iconic horror villains of the 1980s.

Question 7

What is the name of the doll in the "Child's Play" franchise?

Accepted Answer

Chucky. Chucky is a "Good Guy" doll possessed by serial killer Charles Lee Ray. The franchise began in 1988 and has spawned films, a TV series and crossover events.

Question 8

In "The Shining" (1980), what hotel does the Torrance family stay at as winter caretakers?

Accepted Answer

The Overlook Hotel. Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of Stephen King's novel set the story at the fictional Overlook Hotel, inspired by the real Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado.

Question 9

From which ancient Celtic festival does Halloween originate?

Accepted Answer

Samhain. Samhain (pronounced "sow-in") was an ancient Celtic festival marking the end of harvest and the start of winter. The Celts believed the boundary between worlds blurred on this night.

Question 10

In Irish folklore, the jack-o-lantern originated from the tale of which character?

Accepted Answer

Stingy Jack. Stingy Jack tricked the Devil and was condemned to roam the earth with only a burning coal in a hollowed-out turnip. Irish immigrants brought the tradition to America and switched to pumpkins.

Question 11

Why is Halloween celebrated on October 31?

Accepted Answer

It is the eve of All Saints' Day (November 1). In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III moved All Saints' Day to November 1, and October 31 became "All Hallows' Eve". The Christian holiday was placed over the existing Samhain festival.

Question 12

What does the phrase "All Hallows' Eve" mean?

Accepted Answer

The evening before All Saints' (Hallows') Day. "Hallow" is an old English word for saint or holy person. "All Hallows' Eve" was eventually shortened to "Halloween" by the 18th century.

Question 13

What medieval practice is considered an early form of trick-or-treating?

Accepted Answer

Souling. On All Souls' Day, poor people would go door to door offering prayers for the dead in exchange for "soul cakes". By the 19th century, "guising" with costumes had developed in Scotland and Ireland.

Question 14

In what original vegetable were jack-o-lanterns carved before pumpkins?

Accepted Answer

Turnips. In Ireland and Scotland, people carved scary faces into turnips, potatoes and large beets. Irish immigrants to America found the native pumpkin much easier to carve.

Question 15

What word for Halloween costumes and door-to-door practice originated in Scotland?

Accepted Answer

Guising. Scottish "guising" involved children dressing up and performing a song, poem or trick in exchange for treats. The first recorded use of "trick or treat" in the US dates to 1927.

Question 16

During the medieval period, what color was Halloween associated with alongside orange?

Accepted Answer

Black. Black represented death and the long winter ahead, while orange represented harvest, autumn leaves and pumpkins. The pairing became the dominant Halloween palette.

Question 17

Are bats actually blind, as the popular saying suggests?

Accepted Answer

No. All bat species can see, and many have excellent vision. The myth comes from their use of echolocation. Fruit bats, for example, rely primarily on sight and smell.

Question 18

In which European country are black cats considered good luck rather than bad?

Accepted Answer

The United Kingdom (and Japan, Scotland and Ireland). In the UK and Japan, black cats are traditionally symbols of good fortune. In the US and parts of continental Europe, they were linked to witchcraft during the Middle Ages.

Question 19

Which nocturnal bird is widely associated with wisdom in some cultures and death in others?

Accepted Answer

The owl. Owls were sacred to the Greek goddess Athena and symbolize wisdom. In Roman and many Native American traditions, however, hearing an owl call was considered a death omen.

Question 20

How many species of vampire bats actually exist?

Accepted Answer

Three. The three vampire bat species (common, hairy-legged, and white-winged) live in Central and South America. They mainly feed on the blood of livestock, not humans.

Question 21

In folklore, why were spiders considered companions to witches?

Accepted Answer

They were thought to be witches' familiars. During the European witch trials, spiders (along with cats, toads and ravens) were believed to be "familiars" or magical helpers serving witches.

Question 22

What is the only mammal capable of true sustained flight?

Accepted Answer

The bat. Other "flying" mammals like flying squirrels actually glide. Bats are the only mammals that achieve powered, flapping flight.

Question 23

Which animal's eye was a key ingredient in Shakespeare's witches' brew in "Macbeth"?

Accepted Answer

Newt (eye of newt). The famous line "Eye of newt, and toe of frog, Wool of bat, and tongue of dog" is from Act 4, Scene 1. Scholars believe some "ingredients" were just folk names for plants.

Question 24

What is a group of crows traditionally called?

Accepted Answer

A murder. The collective noun "a murder of crows" dates back to the 15th century and adds to the bird's ominous reputation in folklore and gothic literature.

Question 25

In what decade was candy corn first invented?

Accepted Answer

The 1880s. Candy corn was invented around 1880 by George Renninger of the Wunderle Candy Company, originally called "chicken feed" because corn was used as livestock feed.

Question 26

Which chocolate candy is the most popular Halloween candy in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. According to most annual surveys (Candystore.com and others), Reese's consistently ranks number one. M&Ms, Snickers and Kit Kat usually round out the top spots.

Question 27

What medieval treat did beggars receive in exchange for prayers for the dead?

Accepted Answer

Soul cakes. Soul cakes were small spiced biscuits given to "soulers" who went door to door on All Souls' Day. The practice is considered an ancestor of modern trick-or-treating.

Question 28

Pumpkin spice latte was first introduced by which coffee chain, and in which year?

Accepted Answer

Starbucks (2003). Starbucks introduced the Pumpkin Spice Latte in fall 2003 and the drink became a massive cultural phenomenon, helping define modern "fall" marketing.

Question 29

Who is credited with inventing the caramel apple in 1948?

Accepted Answer

Dan Walker. Kraft Foods sales rep Dan Walker found a way to melt leftover Halloween caramels and dip apples into them, creating the now-classic Halloween treat.

Question 30

Approximately how much do Americans spend on Halloween candy each year?

Accepted Answer

About 3 billion dollars. The National Retail Federation reports US Halloween candy spending of around 3 billion dollars per year, part of total Halloween spending of over 12 billion dollars.

Question 31

What food traditionally features a hidden coin or ring in Irish Halloween tradition?

Accepted Answer

Barmbrack. Barmbrack is a sweet Irish bread baked with hidden objects, each predicting the finder's fortune for the coming year: a ring for marriage, a coin for wealth, a stick for an unhappy union.

Question 32

What kind of nuts are traditionally roasted on Halloween in Britain and Ireland?

Accepted Answer

Chestnuts. October 31 was once called "Nutcrack Night" in parts of Britain. Roasting chestnuts and predicting the future from how they popped was a Halloween fortune-telling tradition.

Question 33

What is consistently the most popular pet costume in America?

Accepted Answer

Pumpkin. The pumpkin costume regularly tops the National Retail Federation's annual list of most popular pet costumes, followed by hot dog, bat and superhero outfits.

Question 34

Roughly how much do Americans spend on Halloween in total each year?

Accepted Answer

Over 12 billion dollars. The National Retail Federation reports total Halloween spending of more than 12 billion dollars annually across costumes, candy, decorations and parties.

Question 35

In the original "Halloween" (1978), the mask worn by Michael Myers was modified from a mask of which TV character?

Accepted Answer

Captain Kirk (William Shatner). The production crew bought a cheap William Shatner Captain Kirk mask, painted it white and widened the eye holes. Shatner later said he was flattered when he learned about it.

Question 36

In what year did "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" first air?

Accepted Answer

1966. The Peanuts Halloween special first aired on CBS on October 27, 1966. It has been an annual broadcast tradition ever since, now airing on Apple TV+.

Question 37

Which 1996 horror film by Wes Craven revived the slasher genre and features a killer named Ghostface?

Accepted Answer

Scream. Wes Craven's "Scream" combined slasher horror with self-aware humor. Ghostface's mask was inspired by Edvard Munch's painting "The Scream".

Question 38

What is the name of the oldest haunted house attraction in the United States, founded in 1973?

Accepted Answer

The Haunted Cave (or commonly cited: Lewisburg Haunted Cave / Knott's Scary Farm). Knott's Scary Farm in California, debuting in 1973, is widely credited as the first major commercial haunted attraction and inspired the modern haunt industry.

Question 39

In which year did the Ghostbusters film originally release, contributing to one of Halloween's most iconic costumes?

Accepted Answer

1984. Ivan Reitman's "Ghostbusters" (1984) starred Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. The jumpsuit-and-proton-pack costume has been a Halloween staple for over forty years.

Question 40

Which Tim Burton film features the song "This Is Halloween"?

Accepted Answer

The Nightmare Before Christmas. "This Is Halloween" opens the 1993 film and is sung by the residents of Halloween Town. The music and lyrics were written by Danny Elfman, who also voices Jack Skellington's singing.

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