32 Fun Halloween Trivia Questions

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Some people love the costumes, candy, and spooky stories. Others just enjoy the crisp air, pumpkins, and family fun. But no matter where you land, one thing’s for sure — Halloween is anything but boring. Behind every tradition is a surprising story, from Celtic harvest festivals to American candy marketing.

If you’re hosting a fall festival, planning a classroom activity, or just looking for a fun game night idea, these 32 great Halloween trivia questions will test your knowledge of the holiday’s history, symbols, and surprising global traditions. Grab a pumpkin spice drink, gather your group, and see who’s the real Halloween expert!

32 Fun Halloween Trivia Questions

1. Where did Halloween originate?
Answer: In ancient Celtic lands as part of the festival of Samhain, marking the end of summer.

2. What does the word Samhain mean in Gaelic?
Answer: “Summer’s end.”

3. Who brought Halloween to America?
Answer: Irish immigrants in the 1800s.

4. What was the purpose of wearing costumes on Halloween?
Answer: To disguise oneself from ghosts and evil spirits roaming the earth that night.

5. What vegetables were used before pumpkins for jack-o’-lanterns?
Answer: Turnips and potatoes.

6. What Catholic holiday inspired the name “Halloween”?
Answer: All Hallows’ Eve, the night before All Saints’ Day.

7. What was the original name for “trick-or-treating”?
Answer: “Souling” or “guising,” where people begged for food or prayers for the dead.

8. When did trick-or-treating become common in America?
Answer: In the 1930s and 1940s.

9. What was given to trick-or-treaters before candy became popular?
Answer: Coins, fruit, nuts, cookies, or small toys.

10. When did candy companies begin marketing candy specifically for Halloween?
Answer: In the 1950s.

11. What are the traditional Halloween colors and what do they represent?
Answer: Orange for harvest and black for death and darkness.

12. Which U.S. state produces the most pumpkins?
Answer: Illinois.

13. What is the most popular Halloween candy in the United States?
Answer: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

14. What famous magician died on Halloween in 1926?
Answer: Harry Houdini.

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Esther Lauriehttp://www.estherlaurie.com
Esther Laurie is a staff writer at churchleaders.com. Her background is in communication and church ministry. She believes in the power of the written word and the beauty of transformation and empowering others. When she’s not working, she loves running, exploring new places and time with friends and family. It’s her goal to work the word ‘whimsy’ into most conversations.

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