Megan Moran Quizzes

Halloween quiz

Where did jack-o'-lanterns come from before pumpkins, and who really directed The Nightmare Before Christmas? These twenty questions wander from ancient harvest festivals to spooky stories, folklore and favorite family films. Gather the trick-or-treaters and see who knows their ghouls from their gourds.

A free quiz from Megan Moran, author of The Ultimate Halloween Quiz Book.

Pick an answer to start20 to go

  1. Question 1 of 20Origins

    Samhain, a festival often linked to the roots of Halloween, was celebrated by which ancient people?

  2. Question 2 of 20Origins

    The word "Halloween" is a shortened form of which phrase?

  3. Question 3 of 20Jack-o'-lanterns

    Before pumpkins took over, jack-o'-lanterns in Ireland and Scotland were traditionally carved from which vegetable?

  4. Question 4 of 20Folklore

    In Irish folklore, the jack-o'-lantern is linked to a trickster who fooled the Devil. What is he usually called?

  5. Question 5 of 20Pumpkins

    Botanically speaking, what is a pumpkin?

  6. Question 6 of 20Pumpkins

    Pumpkins belong to the same plant family as which of these?

  7. Question 7 of 20Around the world

    Mexico's Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is celebrated mainly on which days?

  8. Question 8 of 20Around the world

    Which bright orange flower is traditionally used to decorate ofrendas for the Day of the Dead?

  9. Question 9 of 20Around the world

    In Scotland, going door to door in costume at Halloween is traditionally known as what?

  10. Question 10 of 20Around the world

    Which traditional Irish fruit bread is eaten at Halloween, with a ring baked inside to predict who will marry?

  11. Question 11 of 20Folklore

    In Irish folklore, the wailing of which female spirit was said to warn of a coming death in the family?

  12. Question 12 of 20Books

    In Mary Shelley's novel, who or what is Frankenstein?

  13. Question 13 of 20Books

    In which year was Bram Stoker's novel Dracula first published?

  14. Question 14 of 20Books

    Mary Shelley began writing Frankenstein during a ghost-story challenge at a villa beside which lake?

  15. Question 15 of 20Books

    In Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", what is the name of the schoolteacher pursued by the Headless Horseman?

  16. Question 16 of 20Films

    In It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, which character waits all night in a pumpkin patch for the Great Pumpkin?

  17. Question 17 of 20Films

    In the 1993 film Hocus Pocus, what is the surname of the three witch sisters?

  18. Question 18 of 20Films

    Who directed the 1993 stop-motion film The Nightmare Before Christmas?

  19. Question 19 of 20Spooky history

    Which famous escape artist died on Halloween in 1926?

  20. Question 20 of 20Music

    Which singer recorded the 1962 novelty hit "Monster Mash"?

Answer all 20 to see your score.

Want more? The Ultimate Halloween Quiz Book has over 500 questions like these, ready for your next quiz night.

Get the book on Amazon
Show all the answers
  1. Samhain, a festival often linked to the roots of Halloween, was celebrated by which ancient people? Ancient Celts
  2. The word "Halloween" is a shortened form of which phrase? All Hallows' Eve
  3. Before pumpkins took over, jack-o'-lanterns in Ireland and Scotland were traditionally carved from which vegetable? Turnips
  4. In Irish folklore, the jack-o'-lantern is linked to a trickster who fooled the Devil. What is he usually called? Stingy Jack
  5. Botanically speaking, what is a pumpkin? A fruit
  6. Pumpkins belong to the same plant family as which of these? Cucumber
  7. Mexico's Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is celebrated mainly on which days? November 1 and 2
  8. Which bright orange flower is traditionally used to decorate ofrendas for the Day of the Dead? Marigold
  9. In Scotland, going door to door in costume at Halloween is traditionally known as what? Guising
  10. Which traditional Irish fruit bread is eaten at Halloween, with a ring baked inside to predict who will marry? Barmbrack
  11. In Irish folklore, the wailing of which female spirit was said to warn of a coming death in the family? Banshee
  12. In Mary Shelley's novel, who or what is Frankenstein? The scientist who builds the creature
  13. In which year was Bram Stoker's novel Dracula first published? 1897
  14. Mary Shelley began writing Frankenstein during a ghost-story challenge at a villa beside which lake? Lake Geneva
  15. In Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", what is the name of the schoolteacher pursued by the Headless Horseman? Ichabod Crane
  16. In It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, which character waits all night in a pumpkin patch for the Great Pumpkin? Linus
  17. In the 1993 film Hocus Pocus, what is the surname of the three witch sisters? Sanderson
  18. Who directed the 1993 stop-motion film The Nightmare Before Christmas? Henry Selick
  19. Which famous escape artist died on Halloween in 1926? Harry Houdini
  20. Which singer recorded the 1962 novelty hit "Monster Mash"? Bobby "Boris" Pickett