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.
