City Quiz

Halloween and All Saints quiz

10 questions about Halloween, Samhain and All Saints' traditions in Europe. One question at a time, the explanation and a source link after each answer, and your score at the end. Free, no account. Works offline once loaded.

Start the quiz

Play

How it works

  1. Read the question and tap one of four answers.
  2. You see at once whether you were right, with the explanation and a link to the source.
  3. After 10 questions you get your score and a result to copy and share.

Facts were checked against the linked sources. Nothing leaves your device.

Celebrating Halloween or All Saints away from home?

Come Alone lists events you can join on your own, and the Meet & Mint app shows events and people near you on one map.

comealone.app · meetmint.app

All 10 questions

  1. 1. What was Samhain, the Gaelic festival that is one of the roots of Halloween?

    1. A Roman festival for the goddess Pomona
    2. A Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest and the start of winter
    3. A Christian feast for the martyrs of Rome
    4. A Norse midwinter feast
    Show answer

    B. A Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest and the start of winter

    Samhain is a Gaelic festival on 1 November that marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. It originated in Ireland and was also widely observed in Scotland and the Isle of Man.

    Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain

  2. 2. Which vegetable was traditionally hollowed out and carved into a jack-o'-lantern in Ireland and Scotland?

    1. Pumpkin
    2. Turnip
    3. Potato
    4. Beetroot
    Show answer

    B. Turnip

    In the 19th century, turnips (and mangel-wurzels) were hollowed out and carved as lanterns for Halloween in parts of Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. The pumpkin became the usual choice in the United States and Canada.

    Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack-o%27-lantern

  3. 3. In which of these countries is 1 November NOT a national public holiday?

    1. Spain
    2. Portugal
    3. France
    4. The Netherlands
    Show answer

    D. The Netherlands

    The Netherlands' list of national holidays has no 1 November. Spain (Día de Todos los Santos), Portugal (Dia de Todos os Santos) and France (La Toussaint) do observe it as a national holiday.

    Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_the_Netherlands

  4. 4. Which sweet is typical of Spanish pastry shops around 1 November?

    1. Roscón de Reyes
    2. Huesos de santo
    3. Panettone
    4. Pan de muerto
    Show answer

    B. Huesos de santo

    Huesos de santo ('saints' bones') are marzipan sweets, shaped like bones and originally filled with an egg-yolk sweet. Spanish pastry shops sell them from late October into early November, for All Saints' Day.

    Source: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huesos_de_santo

  5. 5. On 1 November, Portuguese children go from door to door saying "Pão-por-Deus" ("bread for God"). What do they receive?

    1. Small cakes, nuts, fruit and sweets
    2. School textbooks
    3. Candles for the cemetery
    4. Cinema tickets
    Show answer

    A. Small cakes, nuts, fruit and sweets

    Pão-por-Deus ('bread for God') is a Portuguese tradition of All Saints' Day. Children go door to door and are given small cakes, nuts, fruit, chocolates and sweets.

    Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A3o-por-Deus

  6. 6. In Catalonia, what is traditionally eaten at the Castanyada, the All Saints' celebration?

    1. Roasted chestnuts and panellets
    2. Paella and turrón
    3. Churros with hot chocolate
    4. Tortilla and croquetas
    Show answer

    A. Roasted chestnuts and panellets

    In Catalonia the Castanyada celebrates All Saints with roasted chestnuts (castanyes) and panellets, special almond balls covered in pine nuts.

    Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castanyada

  7. 7. Mexico's Day of the Dead is linked to 1 and 2 November. What is 2 November called in the Catholic calendar?

    1. All Souls' Day
    2. All Hallows' Eve
    3. Ash Wednesday
    4. Candlemas
    Show answer

    A. All Souls' Day

    In the Catholic calendar, All Saints' Day is 1 November and All Souls' Day follows on 2 November. Mexico's Day of the Dead is traditionally celebrated on 1 and 2 November.

    Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints%27_Day

  8. 8. Trick-or-treating traces back to which older custom?

    1. Guising: going house to house in costume for food, in Scotland and Ireland
    2. A Roman harvest procession
    3. Christmas carol singing in Germany
    4. A Lenten fasting ritual in Spain
    Show answer

    A. Guising: going house to house in costume for food, in Scotland and Ireland

    The history of trick-or-treating traces back to Scotland and Ireland, where guising (going house to house in costume for food or treats) is recorded from at least the 16th century. The phrase "trick or treat" was first recorded in Ontario, Canada, in 1917.

    Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trick-or-treating

  9. 9. Is 1 November (All Saints' Day, Allerheiligen) a public holiday in every German federal state?

    1. Yes, in every federal state
    2. No, only in five federal states
    3. Only in Berlin
    4. No, it is not observed anywhere
    Show answer

    B. No, only in five federal states

    All Saints' Day is a public holiday in five German federal states: Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia and Saarland. Germany also treats it as a quiet day (stiller Tag), when public entertainment is allowed only if it keeps the day's serious character.

    Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints%27_Day

  10. 10. "Halloween" is a contraction of "All Hallows' Eve". It is the evening before which feast?

    1. All Saints' Day (All Hallows' Day)
    2. All Souls' Day
    3. Midsummer
    4. Epiphany
    Show answer

    A. All Saints' Day (All Hallows' Day)

    Halloween is the evening of 31 October, the eve of All Saints' Day on 1 November. The word is a contraction of 'All Hallows' Eve'.

    Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween

Day of the Dead quiz · Christmas markets quiz · City trivia questions · Pub quiz kit