50 Halloween Trivia Questions

There's something about Halloween that delights people no matter their age. Whether you're dressing up to trick-or-treat, decorating the house, or handing out candy, there's something for everyone to enjoy during this spooktacular holiday. But how much do you really know about Halloween and its history?

Check out the trivia questions below to find out some fascinating facts about this haunting holiday. Pop some candy in your mouth, put on some scary music, and take your best shot at these tricky (or sweet) trivia questions.

1. What is the name of the Celtic holiday that many believed Halloween is derived from? Samhain, which is the name of the festival where Celtic people would light fires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts.
2. What city is known as the “Halloween Capital of the World” and claims to have hosted the first Halloween celebration? Anoka, Minnesota.
3. On average, how many cups of sugar do American children consume in Halloween candy each year? About 3 cups of sugar each.
4. What do you call a fear of Halloween? Samhainophobia.
5. What was the original name of candy corn, Halloween's most divisive candy? Chicken Feed was the original name of the candy, first produced in the 1880's.
6. Which American state grows the most pumpkins? Illinois, which produces around 41% of the nation's pumpkins.
7. Who wrote the novel Dracula? Bram Stoker. The original novel was titled The Dead Un-Dead, and Dracula's original name was Count Wampyr.
8. What is the most common costume worn on Halloween by trick-or-treaters? Spider-Man. Followed by pirate, then witch. In third place is a tie between hippie, devil, and police officer.
9. What word does the raven repeat over and over again in Edgar Allen Poe's narrative poem, “The Raven?”
10. How much money does the United States spend on Halloween candy annually on average? Around $3 billion.
11. What traditional Halloween prank is the name of a popular 90's alt rock band? Smashing Pumpkins.
12. Before people carved Jack-o-lanterns into pumpkins, what vegetable was used for carving? Turnips.

Plan a thrilling Halloween party with an online sign up. View an Example

13. Who was the First Lady to decorate the White House for Halloween? Mamie Eisenhower, in 1958.
14. What is the most popular Halloween candy? Reese's Peanut Butter Cups is the second most popular.
15. What real life person was the character Dracula inspired by? Fifteenth century Romanian ruler Vlad the Impaler.
16. Where did the original Michael Myers' mask from the movie franchise Halloween come from? Actor William Shatner's death mask from Star Trek was painted white and used as the movie prop because the budget for the first film was tight.
17. What does the word “Hallow” mean? A saint or holy person. This is why Halloween is sometimes called “All Hallows' Eve” or “All Saints' Eve.”
18. What song by Warren Zevon was later sampled by Kid Rock in All Summer Long? Werewolves of London.
19. What is the name of the hotel where the Shining book takes place? The Overlook Hotel, which was based on the real-life Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado.
20. What candy was included in soldier's field rations during WWII? Tootsie-Rolls. Because of their consistency, they can last in changing weather and give short bursts of energy. Soldiers also used them to patch holes in equipment in a pinch.
21. What does a teal pumpkin represent on Halloween? In the United States, placing a teal pumpkin on your porch signifies that you offer non-food trinkets and treats that are safe for children with food allergies.
22. What year did the Salem Witch Trials begin to take place? The Salem Witch Trials started in June of 1692 and lasted until May 1693. In all, nineteen people were hanged, five died in custody, and one man was crushed to death under heavy rocks.
23. In the Middle Ages, what ailments did people believe pumpkins could cure? Snakebites and freckles.
24. What famous performer died on Halloween day, 1926? Magician Harry Houdini passed away after fracturing his ankle during a show, sustaining several punches, and rupturing his appendix.
25. What musical horror/comedy picture encourages audience members to participate by yelling, throwing toast, and covering their heads with newspaper? Rocky Horror Picture Show.
26. Who wrote the book “Frankenstein”? Mary Shelley came up with the premise of the book one night in the Swiss Alps when she, her husband, and Lord Byron challenged each other to write a ghost story.
27. When is the next time there will be a full moon on Halloween? 2039.
28. Who sings the song “The Monster Mash?” Bobby “Boris” Pickett released the single in 1962.
29. What is Werewolf Syndrome? A medical condition that causes a person to grow excessive hair all over their body.
30. In Mexico, what celebration begins on midnight of October 31^st? The Day of the Dead. Unlike Halloween, the Day of the Dead is a several days' long celebration of loved ones who have passed away.
31. What are the names of the four ghosts in the video game Pac-Man? Inky, Pinky, Blinky, and Clyde.
32. What is the name for a male witch? A warlock.
33. What Roman goddess is thought to be honored on Halloween? Pomona, who is the goddess of fruit and trees. Many believe that this is where the tradition of bobbing for apples originates.
34. Who wrote and sang the song “Ghostbusters,” written for the hit movie? Ray Parker Jr. The song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1984.
35. In the Middle Ages, what now-popular pets were considered a sign of the devil? Cats.

Request items and volunteers for a Halloween class party with an online sign up. View an Example

36. What is the most commercially successful horror film franchise of all time? Godzilla.
37. Which U.S. president told a group of school kids that the White House was haunted? George H. W. Bush. In 1989, he jokingly told a group of visiting school children that the ghost of Abraham Lincoln haunts the White House. Many visiting diplomats and residents over the years have claimed to have felt the presence of Lincoln's ghost, or had encounters with it including Winston Churchill, Jacquline Kennedy, and Eleanor Roosevelt.
38. Who wrote the horror novel The Exorcist?  William Peter Blatty.
39. Who produced and directed the film Psycho?  Alfred Hitchcock received an Oscar for best director for the 1960 film, which also won three other Oscars.
40. What can you sprinkle along doorways and windowsills to keep out evil spirits? According to Celtic tradition, salt.
41. How much did the world's largest pumpkin weigh? Alex Noel, from Belgium, won the Guinness Book of World Records competition for largest pumpkin with a whopper that weighed an astonishing 2,624.6 pounds.
42. In which state is it illegal to dress up as a priest or nun on Halloween? Alabama.
43. What is the last name of the three sister witches in the movie Hocus Pocus?  The Sanderson sisters.
44. Are pumpkins considered a fruit or a vegetable? A fruit.
45. Which character believes in the Great Pumpkin in It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown? Linus.
46. Which Halloween candy is the least popular nationally? Circus peanuts grabbed the top (worst) spot, according to CandyStore.com. The next most unpopular was candy corn, according to a survey done in 2023.
47. Which real-life serial killer inspired the characters of Norman Bates from Psycho and Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre?  Ed Gein.
48. In the United States, what does a blue pumpkin bucket mean trick-or-treating? It might mean that the trick-or-treater is on the autism spectrum. Help to spread awareness of this new trend!
49. What is a collection of witches called? A coven.
50. What item is banned on Halloween in Beverly Hills, California? Silly String. Additionally, the use of hair removal products and shaving cream are also banned for people under 21 on Halloween night.

Whether you plan to stay in and cozy up with a scary movie or head out into the neighborhood to do some trick-or-treating, you'll have some fun facts about Halloween to share with friends and family. Happy haunting!

Kelsey Caldwell is a realtor and freelance writer from Charlotte, NC. She and her husband are parents to two amazing kids, a puppy, and rabbit.