October 19, 2010
Halloween 2010 is almost upon us. To get into the spirit of the spook-tacular holiday, here are Halloween Top 10 lists for fun facts, trivia questions and jokes to share with your children to get them into the spirit of the spooky holiday. There's even a Top 10 list for fun and family-friendly Halloween events in Atlanta. Happy Halloween to all!
Top 10 Fun Facts about Halloween:
- Halloween candy sales average about $2 billion annually in the United States.
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups rank as the most popular Halloween candy, followed by Life Savers, Baby Ruth, Tootsie Rolls and Milky Way. M&Ms and Hershey bars are also very popular.
- Halloween is the 2nd most commercially successful holiday, with Christmas being the first.
- Pumpkins also come in white, blue and green.
- The Count Dracula Society was founded in 1962.
- To this day, there are vampire clubs and societies filled with members who claim to be real vampires.
- Medieval stone carvers crafted gargoyles to ward off evil spirits.
- The movie "Halloween" was made in only 21 days in 1978 on a very limited budget. It was shot in the spring and used fake autumn leaves.
- Orange and black are Halloween colors because orange is associated with the fall harvest and black is associated with darkness and death.
- The setting of the “Halloween” movie is in Illinois, but the vehicles have California license plates.
Top 10 Trivia Questions for Halloween:
- Why did the ancient Celts begin the tradition of wearing masks and costumes on Halloween? Answer: To trick evil spirits.
- According to superstition, a person born on Halloween has what particular ability? Answer: They can see and talk to spirits.
- Which country celebrates Day of the Dead starting at midnight on October 31st? Answer: Mexico
- The ancient Celts used which vegetable to carve their jack-o-lanterns? Answer: Turnips
- According to superstition, what does it mean if you see a spider on Halloween? Answer: A dead relative is watching over you.
- Legend has it that if a girl wants to see or dream of her future husband, she must do what on Halloween? Answer: Carry a lamp to a spring and look at the reflection of the water, put a spring of rosemary and a sixpence under her pillow and plant hempseed.
- According to Halloween superstition, what should you do if you want to see a witch? Answer: Put your clothes on inside out and walk backwards.
- According to superstition, on Halloween night owls would swoop down and feast on the souls of the dying. How could you protect yourself from hungry owls? Answer: Turn your pockets inside out, and leave them hanging.
- Halloween originated as a pagan festival known as what? Answer: Samhain
- It was believed that on Halloween, spirits and other evil creatures roamed the earth. How could you protect yourself from evil? Answer: Bury animal bones in your front yard.
Top 10 Halloween Jokes for Kids and the Young at Heart:
- What do you call a skeleton that won’t work? Answer: Lazy bones
- Where do spooks water ski? Answer: On Lake Erie
- Do zombies eat popcorn with their fingers? Answer: No, they eat the fingers separately.
- Who was the most famous French skeleton? Answer: Napoleon Bone-apart
- What does a witch ask for at a hotel? Answer: Broom service
- Who has webbed feet and fangs? Answer: Count Quackula
- Where do baby ghosts do during the day? Answer: Dayscare centers
- What does a skeleton order at a restaurant? Answer: Spare ribs
- Why didn’t the ghost go to the Halloween party? Answer: Because he didn’t have any body to go with him.
- Why do mummies have trouble keeping friends? Answer: Because they’re so wrapped up in themselves.
Top 10 Family-friendly Halloween Events in Atlanta:
- Halloween Hikes at the Chattahoochee Nature Center
- The Pumpkin Festival at Stone Mountain Park
- Haunted Nights of Lights at Lake Lanier
- Netherworld Haunted House in Norcross
- Fright Fest at 6-Flags Over Georgia
- Boo at the Zoo at Zoo Atlanta
- Georgia a-Scary-Um at the Georgia Aquarium
- 13 Stories Haunted House at Town Center Mall in Kennesaw
- Scarecrows in the Garden at the Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Dali-Ween at the High Museum
To receive future articles by Jackie Kass, scroll to the top of this article, and click on SUBSCRIBE. Do you have a story idea? I'd love to hear from you! E-mail your ideas to me at jackiekass@bellsouth.net.
Do you like TV? If so, then be sure to check out my National TV page on Examiner.com.
