It’s spooky season, and what better way to get into the spirit than by testing your knowledge with some Halloween trivia? Test your expertise on all things eerie and mysterious with these trivia questions that are sure to challenge and delight. From classic horror movies to quirky traditions, these Halloween trivia questions test just how much you really know about this frightful holiday!
Plus be sure to download our free Google Slides perfect to use for a classroom trivia challenge or as a kick-off each day during spooky season!
Halloween Trivia Questions and Answers
1. What vegetable is traditionally carved into a jack-o’-lantern?
Pumpkins, but we used to carve turnips!
2. What color cat is often associated with Halloween and considered bad luck?
Black, but it’s just a superstition!
3. What is the name of the famous vampire from Transylvania?
Count Dracula, the title character from Bram Stoker’s beloved novel.
4. In what country did Halloween originate?
The holiday has evolved from the festival of Samhain, which was celebrated among the Celts of ancient Britain and Ireland.
5. Which phobia means you have an intense fear of Halloween?
Samhainophobia is actually a recognized phobia!
6. What do people “bob” for at Halloween parties?
Apples. Learn more about how this tradition got started.
7. What is a group of witches called?
A coven, but some people call it a gathering.
8. Which famous magician died on Halloween?
Harry Houdini. The story is absolutely tragic.
9. What white, orange, and yellow Halloween candy is often shaped like a cone?
Candy corn, Halloween’s most polarizing treat!
10. What was the original name for candy corn?
Chicken Feed. Somehow that makes it even worse.
11. Which part of a werewolf morphs when they experience their transformation?
Their entire body! Read more about the chilling history of this piece of Halloween trivia.
12. What is another name for a carved pumpkin?
Jack-o’-lantern … but who is Jack?
13. What was the name of the U.S. Air Force project that investigated UFOs from 1947 to 1969?
Project Blue Book. Read more from the National Archives!
14. In which city did the famous witch trials take place?
Salem Village in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which is now Danvers, Massachusetts.
15. In 2023, Travis Gienger set the Guinness World Record for the heaviest pumpkin. What was its weight?
2,749 pounds.
16. Who wrote the famous book Frankenstein?
Spawning multiple film adaptations, this well-known novel was written by Mary Shelley.
17. What repels vampires, according to legend?
Garlic, mirrors, sunlight, crucifixes, and holy water. Apparently, there are a few other ways to stop a vampire that are less known!
18. Which monster is known for turning people to stone with a single look?
Medusa. Learn more about how she became a monster!
19. What is the most popular Halloween costume for pets?
A pumpkin. But hot dogs are second in popularity!
20. What is the name of the dance that skeletons are often depicted doing in old Halloween cartoons?
No list of Halloween trivia is complete without the Skeleton Dance. Watch it here!
21. What fruit do you traditionally give to someone on Halloween for good luck?
An apple. After the Roman Empire conquered the majority of Celtic territory, two Roman festivals were incorporated into the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain. The first was Feralia, where the passing of the dead was commemorated. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of trees and fruit. The apple is considered Pomona’s symbol, which might explain why apples are so commonly associated with Halloween!
22. What is the name of the main character in the Halloween movie The Nightmare Before Christmas?
Jack Skellington.
23. What was the first movie to feature a “slasher” character, inspiring the horror genre?
Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece Psycho.
24. What Halloween activity involves going door-to-door asking for candy?
Trick-or-treating. Read about the fascinating origins of this tradition!
25. In which year did Charles M. Schulz’s beloved It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown first air?
1966.
26. What do you call someone who turns into a wolf during a full moon?
A werewolf. Learn more about the other crazy things people do during a full moon.
27. What type of monster is Frankenstein?
This is a trick question! The name Frankenstein is actually the surname of the scientist who created the monster. That being said, Frankenstein refers to his creation as a “fiend” or “daemon.” Read here to learn more about what Frankenstein’s monster is truly supposed to look like.
28. What was Dracula’s first name?
Bram Stoker’s legendary vampire was named Count Dracula, but many believe it was inspired by Vlad the Impaler.
29. Which animal is commonly associated with witches as their “familiar”?
A familiar refers to a small animal or imp kept as a witch’s attendant. While black cats are most common, familiars can also be other creatures such as insects or toads.
30. What Halloween decoration is made of dried corn stalks?
Corn shocks, which are made by tying groups of corn stalks together. They can look pretty spooky out in a field!
31. What does the name “Dracula” mean?
It is derived from the Romanian word for devil but can also mean dragon.
32. What method did people in the British Isles use to protect their homes from evil spirits?
Hiding their shoes in the walls.
33. What is a “banshee”?
A spirit that wails to signal death … pretty terrifying.
34. What word does a magician commonly say while performing a magic trick?
Abracadabra, but Hocus Pocus and Alakazam work too!
35. What Halloween treat is also known as “candy floss”?
Cotton candy—but please don’t try to floss and clean your teeth with it!
36. Which famous TV family lives at 1313 Mockingbird Lane?
The Munsters.
37. What ghostly figure is said to roam the halls of the White House?
Abraham Lincoln. Learn more about the Lingering Legend of Abraham Lincoln’s Ghost.
38. What is the most popular candy given out on Halloween in the United States?
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
39. Which mythical creature is half-man, half-bull?
In Greek mythology, this fantastic being is a minotaur!
40. How many bones are in the average human skeleton?
There are 206 bones in the typical human skeleton.
41. What is the name of the vampire who appears in the movie Nosferatu?
Count Orlok.
42. What is the name of the three witches in Shakespeare’s Macbeth?
The Weird Sisters.
43. What do you call the full moon that appears in October?
A full hunter’s moon.
44. Who played lead character Laurie Strode in the 1978 movie Halloween?
No Halloween trivia could be complete without mentioning Jamie Lee Curtis! Check out this list of legendary “scream queens,” which includes both Jamie Lee Curtis and her mom, Janet Leigh, who starred in Psycho.
45. What movie sits at the top of Rotten Tomatoes’ list of the Scariest Horror Movies Ever?
The Exorcist. The entire top 10 list is absolutely terrifying!
46. What is a mummified body called?
A mummy.
47. In which European countries did the tradition of wearing costumes on Halloween originate?
Wearing costumes originated in Britain and Ireland as part of the original Samhain traditions.
48. Is a pumpkin a fruit or vegetable?
Believe it or not, it’s a fruit!
49. Which U.S. first lady was the first to decorate the White House for Halloween?
In 1958, Mamie Eisenhower decorated the White House for a Halloween luncheon.
50. What was Dr. Frankenstein’s first name?
Victor. He was a Swiss student of natural science.
51. What color is the M&M’s character that is a vampire in Halloween commercials?
The red one!
52. Who is the friendly ghost in the famous cartoon?
Casper the Friendly Ghost!
53. What does a witch ride on?
A broomstick. Learn why here!
54. What is the name of the villain in the movie Halloween?
Michael Myers. He’s also called “The Shape.”
55. What are mummies wrapped in?
According to the Smithsonian, “Each mummy needed hundreds of yards of linen.”
56. What is the name of the town in The Nightmare Before Christmas?
Halloween Town.
57. What are the traditional Halloween colors?
Orange and black.
58. What is the title of the famous song that starts with “This is Halloween”?
“This Is Halloween” from The Nightmare Before Christmas.
59. What is the name of the monster with a pumpkin head in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow?
The Headless Horseman.
60. What Halloween-themed movie features three witch sisters coming back to life?
Hocus Pocus.
61. Which actor has said that Hocus Pocus was one of her favorite movie roles of all time?
Bette Midler. She’s even hoping to make Hocus Pocus 3!
62. What spooky creature can transform into a bat?
A vampire. Are bats “spooky superheroes” then? Read more to decide here!
63. What does a zombie crave to eat?
Brains. Read more to demystify zombie behavior!
64. What are witches said to brew in their cauldrons?
Potions, including the famous “witches’ brew.”
65. Which U.S. state produces the most pumpkins?
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it’s Illinois!
66. What classic horror movie features a character named Norman Bates?
Psycho. Many consider Norman Bates to be the most terrifying mama’s boy in film history!
67. What food is thrown at houses by tricksters on Halloween night?
Eggs. Thankfully, this messy practice has declined in recent years.
68. What is a common term for a ghost’s presence in a location?
A haunting. Learn more about the strange, new science behind felt presences!
69. What word means “fear of spiders”?
Arachnophobia.
70. What is the name of the castle where Dracula lives?
Dracula’s Castle, but it fits the description of Bran Castle in real-life Transylvania.
71. What animated TV show features a Halloween episode called “Treehouse of Horror”?
The Simpsons.
72. What is the name of the evil doll in the Child’s Play movies?
Chucky.
73. Where does the mask that Michael Myers wears in Halloween come from?
It’s a modified Captain Kirk mask from Star Trek. Gotta love it when nerdy trivia meets Halloween trivia!
74. What horror movie is known for the line “Here’s Johnny!”?
The Shining. Jack Nicholson iconically spoke the line in the movie—it’s a reference to how host Johnny Carson was introduced nightly on The Tonight Show. Find out why this iconic line almost ended up on the cutting room floor!
75. How much candy do Americans consume each year?
An average American eats roughly 8 pounds of candy each year!
76. What was the movie Halloween originally called?
The Babysitter Murders.
77. What is the term for a ghost that makes noises to scare people?
A poltergeist. Learn more about the different types of ghosts one might encounter. Spooky!
78. What is the name of the main ghost in A Christmas Carol?
The Ghost of Christmas Past.
79. What movie influenced Michael Jackson to work with director John Landis on the Thriller music video?
Landis’ An American Werewolf in London.
80. Where does the movie The Shining take place?
At the Overlook Hotel. Learn more about the real filming location!
81. What is the highest-grossing horror movie of all time?
According to Collider, the 2017 Stephen King movie It.
82. What is the name of the fictional town in the movie The Lost Boys?
Santa Carla, also known as the “Murder Capital of the World.”
83. What significant weather event took place on Halloween in 1991?
The “Halloween Blizzard” of 1991, which brought 3 feet of snow and 2 inches of ice across parts of the Midwest.
84. Why was Halloween almost canceled as a holiday in the 1930s?
Pranksters and vandals were causing millions of dollars in damage to U.S. cities on Halloween night.
85. Where can you find the world’s longest walk-through haunted house?
The Haunted Cave in Lewisburg, Ohio, sits 80 feet underground and stretches a remarkable 3,563 feet.
86. What is the name of the famous vampire hunter in Dracula?
Abraham Van Helsing.
87. What vegetable is traditionally associated with the night before Halloween?
People used cabbage in pranks on Mischief Night, also known as Cabbage Night. They left stinky, rotten cabbage near neighbors’ doors.
88. What did Disney originally call the movie Hocus Pocus?
Halloween House. The concept was different, too, as it was going to depict more horror than comedy.
89. What holiday do people celebrate on November 1, the day after Halloween?
All Saints’ Day.
90. What weapon does the Grim Reaper carry?
A scythe.
91. What ghost ship is doomed to sail the oceans forever?
The Flying Dutchman. Learn more about this chilling legend!
92. According to folklore, what did Scottish women hang on Halloween to “see” their future husbands?
Wet sheets in front of a fire. What an odd piece of Halloween trivia!
93. Which mythical creature is half-human and half-horse?
A centaur. Learn more about the centaurs of Greek mythology.
94. Why do some people wear their clothes inside out on Halloween?
According to superstition, if you wear your clothes inside out and walk backward on Halloween, you’ll see a witch at midnight.
95. What is the name of Hong Kong’s Festival of Hungry Ghosts?
The Yulan Festival.
96. What Halloween movie features a cursed videotape that causes viewers to die after seven days?
The Ring, an American adaptation of the original Japanese film, Ringu.
97. When was Halloween first celebrated in the United States?
Around the 1840s, when a large number of Irish immigrants arrived, fleeing from the potato famine.
98. Where was the first city-wide Halloween celebration in the United States held?
Anoka, Minnesota, in 1921.
99. What candy did people give to soldiers in battle during the Korean War?
Tootsie Rolls. The soldiers discovered boxes of frozen Tootsie Rolls and distributed them to all the men, saving them from potentially starving to death!
100. When selling a house, is the homeowner required to disclose that it’s haunted?
No. In most states, sellers are not obligated to disclose paranormal activity. Two exceptions are New York and New Jersey. Sometimes, states don’t even have to disclose deaths or murders. Yikes!
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