The word "witch" comes from the Old English wicce meaning "wise woman"
False
The original symbol of Halloween was a turnip, not a pumpkin.
True
Halloween originated in Europe but during the 19th century immigrants brought it to North America.
True: The custom of Halloween came to America in the 1840s with Irish immigrants fleeing a potato famine
Trick-or-treating is a "modern" custom.
False: Hundreds of years ago, people dressed up as saints and went door-to-door.
"Samhainophobia" is the fear of Halloween.
True
The most popular children’s costumes are witches and ghosts.
False: Princesses and superheroes have been the most popular costumes for children over the last few years. Adults are more likely to dress as witches.
Halloween is the third most commercially successful holiday, coming behind Valentine's Day and Christmas.
False: Halloween is actually the second.
Halloween was banned during WWII.
True: The government made sure that youngsters knew that pranks and mischief fell under the same category as sabotage in this time of war.
Owls were once thought to be witches.
True: In Medieval Europe, owls were believed to be witches and if an owl’s call was heard, it meant that a person was about to die.
Trick-or-treating comes from an Old Asian tradition of putting food out to appease vengeful spirits.
False: It comes from an old Celtic tradition where people lit bonfires and made sacrifices to pay homage to the dead who were believed to return on Samhain.
Harry Houdini passed away on Halloween (31 Oct. 1926)
True. Doctors discovered he had appendicitis and peritonitis. Doctors removed his appendix, but the poison from it bursting was already in his system.
Halloween originated in Ireland.
True
A pumpkin is a vegetable.
False. It belongs to fruits.
Vampires dislike garlic.
True
According to superstition, a person born on Halloween can talk to spirits.
True
