Halloween

1. Jack-o-lanterns are lanterns carved out of what?

Apples

Pumpkins

Watermelons

Jack-o'-lanterns are hollowed-out pumpkins with a face cut into one side.People in Scotland and Ireland once carved out large beets or turnips to use as lanterns on Halloween. After this custom reached America, pumpkins began to be used.

Explanation

Jack-o'-lanterns are hollowed-out pumpkins with a face cut into one side.People in Scotland and Ireland once carved out large beets or turnips to use as lanterns on Halloween. After this custom reached America, pumpkins began to be used.

2. Apples became associated with Halloween because of harvest festivals celebrating what Roman goddess?

Diana

Pomona

Juno

3. What Christian holy day, established in the 800's, adopted pagan harvest festival customs into its celebration?

Halloween

All Saint's Day

All Soul's Day

In the 800's, the church established All Saints' Day on November 1. About two hundred years later, it added All Souls' Day on November 2. This day was set aside for people to pray for friends and family who had died. People made many of the old pagan customs part of this Christian holy day.

Explanation

In the 800's, the church established All Saints' Day on November 1. About two hundred years later, it added All Souls' Day on November 2. This day was set aside for people to pray for friends and family who had died. People made many of the old pagan customs part of this Christian holy day.

4. What group of people first wore costumes during harvest festivals?

Celts

Romans

Germans

Costumes were worn in Celtic festivities. Adults sometimes wore costumes when they begged house-to-house for a Halloween feast. In County Cork, Ireland, a man wearing a white robe and holding a wooden horse's head led the group. In parts of Scotland, costumed beggars out on Halloween were known as skeklets. In Wales, boys dressed as girls and girls dressed as boys to go house-to-house singing Halloween rhymes.

Explanation

Costumes were worn in Celtic festivities. Adults sometimes wore costumes when they begged house-to-house for a Halloween feast. In County Cork, Ireland, a man wearing a white robe and holding a wooden horse's head led the group. In parts of Scotland, costumed beggars out on Halloween were known as skeklets. In Wales, boys dressed as girls and girls dressed as boys to go house-to-house singing Halloween rhymes.

5. What was the name of the Celtic harvest festival that historians say was the source of the present-day Halloween celebration?

Samhain

Feralia

Carnelevarium

Many believe the festival of Samhain to be the beginning of the Celtic year. At Samhain, farmers brought livestock in from summer pastures, and people gathered to build shelter for winter.

Explanation

Many believe the festival of Samhain to be the beginning of the Celtic year. At Samhain, farmers brought livestock in from summer pastures, and people gathered to build shelter for winter.