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Fun Halloween Trivia for Kids

While you’re telling spooky stories around the bonfire or munching on Halloween candy in cozy pajamas, entertain the kids with some fun Halloween trivia. Whether it’s the important role turnips played in Halloween history or the name of the most popular candy in the U.S., you’re sure to find some tidbits to share in this list of interesting Halloween trivia for kids from us at Pottery Barn Kids.

fun-halloween-trivia

Trick-or-Treating Trivia

Trick-or-treating has been a Halloween tradition since the 1500s in Ireland and Scotland, when both kids and adults would go door to door in costumes and sing songs in exchange for food. Back then, one of the most popular costumes was a horse, and the most popular treats were cakes, fruit and money.

Americans have been trick-or-treating since the early 1900s as the practice spread around the world. Some historians believe that the first American trick-or-treaters started ringing doorbells in 1934. However, it wasn’t until the 1950s that neighbors kept big bowls of candy ready on Halloween night.

In the United States, candy sales around Halloween account for over 25 percent of all candy sold in the year! During Halloween week, shoppers buy over 90 million pounds of candy to fill little treat-or-treaters' treat bags.

It’s not just candy that children are trick-or-treating for. The Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF program provides small boxes for trick-or-treaters to collect small change donations from the homes they visit. UNICEF estimates that this program has collected more than $118 million in donations since its beginning in 1950.

Pumpkin Carving Trivia

In the 1800s, Irish trick-or-treaters carved turnips – not pumpkins – into spooky faces and carried them around as lanterns to ward off evil spirits while lighting their Halloween path.

In 1820, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” told the story of a Headless Horseman with a Jack-o’-lantern in place of his head. From then on, pumpkins replaced turnips in Halloween popularity. In fact, over 50 million acres of pumpkins are harvested in America each Halloween.

Today, pumpkins come in more colors than just orange. Take a look around the pumpkin patch this year for blue, green, yellow, red or even white pumpkins. You may even be lucky enough to find a Cinderella pumpkin – a variety named after its resemblance to the pumpkin that Cinderella’s fairy godmother transformed into a carriage.

Halloween Costume Trivia

Up until the 1920s, Halloween costumes were made by hand, by parents or children themselves. It wasn’t until Halloween became more popular in America that trick-or-treaters were able to shop for ready-made costumes in stores.

The most popular choices for kids' costumes are traditionally superheroes and princesses. But in recent years, Americans have taken to outfitting their furry friends as well. The most popular costume for pets? A pumpkin.

Each year, we curate a selection of unique and beautiful costumes for both children and adults. From butterfly fairies to cuddly woodland creatures, our costumes are perfect for school parties or neighborhood gatherings.

Halloween Celebration Trivia

The very first Halloween parties included plenty of fun and games, some of which are still popular today. Kids in the 1700s bobbed for apples from large water-filled bins using only their teeth to pick up the apple – which is still a fun game today. Less common today is the practice of hanging syrup-coated scones by strings to eat quickly without using your hands.

The fun doesn’t stop at home for modern-day Halloween celebrations. The world’s largest Halloween parade takes place yearly in New York City and is one of America’s only major nighttime parades. It’s televised worldwide to over 100 million viewers.

Over 40 million American children are expected to go trick-or-treating this Halloween and enjoy the festivities while feasting on candy in colorful costumes. You and your kids can have fun learning more about the traditions and history of the season with these Halloween trivia ideas for kids. Quiz your little goblins and ghouls about turnips, the most popular pet costume and syrupy scones while enjoying each other’s company on a festive fall night.