Halloween Quiz

The History and Traditions of Halloween

Halloween, celebrated on October 31, has roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people lit bonfires and wore costumes to ward off roaming ghosts. When the Roman Empire conquered Celtic territory, two Roman festivals merged with Samhain: Feralia, which commemorated the passing of the dead, and a day to honor Pomona, the goddess of fruit and trees - The apple potentially explaining the tradition of bobbing for apples.

The jack-o'-lantern tradition originated in Ireland and Scotland, where turnips and beets were carved into lanterns to represent souls of the dead or to ward off evil spirits. Irish immigrants brought the practice to North America, where pumpkins proved a more readily available and easier-to-carve substitute. Try the Thanksgiving Quiz for more autumnal trivia, or enjoy the Christmas Quiz for another beloved holiday.

Today Halloween is one of the most commercially important holidays in the United States, second only to Christmas in terms of consumer spending. Americans spend billions on candy, costumes, and decorations each year. The phrase "trick or treat" became widespread in North America during the 1920s - 1940s, evolving from older traditions of "guising" in Scotland and Ireland. See how much you know about this spooky holiday!